The Malta Tourism Authority currently has before it 109 applications for new tourist accommodation, Tourism Minister Mario de Marco told Opposition MP Gavin Gulia on Wednesday in reply to a parliamentary question.

He added that 76 of these applications were for new developments and 33 for extensions to existing accommodation.

Dr de Marco also said that Mepa has before it 10 applic-ations for the construction of new hotels outside development zones.

Papers laid on the Table of the House with the reply show that four of the ODZ applic-ations are for Mellieħa. The others are for Marsascala, San Ġwann, Attard, Rabat Malta, Għajnsielem and Għasri.

On the other hand, the 109 applications to the MTA involve 42 hotels, 44 guesthouses and 23 hostels. The 33 extensions involve one five-star hotel, nine four-star, eight three-star, two two-star, five guesthouses and eight hostels.

The longest-standing applications, nine in number, date back to 2006.

Answering another PQ by Nationalist MP Ċensu Galea, Dr de Marco said the 27 existing hotels applying for extensions are in Valletta, St Julian’s, Swieqi, Gżira, Msida, Sliema, Buġibba, St Paul’s Bay, Mellieħa and Gozo.