The number of English language students who visited Malta last year dropped compared to 2012 but their length of stay increased, according to an industry survey.

This was mainly due to shifts in students ages - with an increase in students over 18 - as well as changes in student markets.

This emerged in an ELT Industry Report 2014, compiled by Deloitte, that was presented to industry stakeholders this morning.The report was commissioned by Feltom, the federation of language schools.

The researchers found that the pattern of student bookings shifted towards more long-term. While the number of student arrivals decreased by 8.4 per cent in 2013, the average length of stay increased by 12.8 per cent.

This shift was mainly due to a shift in average student profile including students' ages - with the under 18s dropping from 35 per cent of total student weeks in 2012 to 25 per cent last year.

Nationality mix showed an increase in numbers from Russia, Central Europe, Japan, South Korea and Brazil countered by decreases from Italy, Spain, France and Germany.

Moreover, students coming to Malta seemed to have more academic-oriented goals.

The overall impact on the average revenue per week was a reduction of 6.6 per cent. Accordingly, estimated revenue for the industry was 3.5 per cent down on 2012 notwithstanding a 3.3 per cent increase in student weeks.

Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said he was generally satisfied with the performance of the sector but "there is no room for complacency".

"We want you to help us improve proficiency in English and will be partnering, for the first time with you in a private public partnership, to train teachers to make our children more proficient in English," he said.

Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis said that the report showed that 2013 proved to be a challenging year and issues raised had to be addressed with "serious coordination". Malta had to focus aggressively on the new markets that had to be addressed, he said as he pledged support to the industry.