A consultation document on a new strategic vision for tourism will be released for feedback next month.

Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis said the government was planning to start the discussion process in mid-January and, following feedback from the public and stakeholders, issue the strategy in March.

The national tourism policy is also due for an update.

Dr Zammit Lewis yesterday visited two hotels and a restaurant in Paceville, in line with the annual tradition of the tourism minister calling on three tourism establishments before the start of the new year.

He said that even though 2014 was a challenging year for tourism, one could see the results.

In fact, the Corinthia San Ġorġ, one of the hotels he visited yesterday, was full and was having problems trying to accommodate last-minute bookings.

“The worst you can do in the tourism sector is take things for granted. The results we have achieved came through a strong collaboration with all the stakeholders,” he said.

He referred to figures released by the National Statistics Office showing an increase in tourism.

“It is highly satisfying. We had exceptional occupancy levels and there was an increase in tourist arrivals, bed nights and expenditure when compared to the same period last year.”

Tourist arrivals in November reached 103,435, an increase of 3.1 per cent over November 2013.

Total nights went up by 3.7 per cent to reach 778,944 nights.

And tourist expenditure was estimated to be €80.4 million, an increase of 4.1 per cent.

Dr Zammit Lewis said the government would carry on working hard so the positive trend would continue, as it was not going to be easy.

Discussions were under way, also with the stakeholders, on plans to continue improving Malta’s tourism product over the next two years.