Tourism numbers are up, with figures for inbound tourists in July rising 17.5 per cent over last year, official statistics show.

The National Statistics Office said that in July 159,519 visitors came to Malta, most of them being tourists. There was also a 17 per cent increase in bed nights over the previous year, which was a lacklustre one because of the global recession.

There was also an increase of 10,000 visitors over July 2008, when the global financial crisis still had not hit home.

That said, while the 710,199 tourists registered in the first seven months this year compare favourably with the 633,204 of last year, the numbers still fall short of reaching the 726,807 tourists total in the first seven months of 2008.

Inbound tourists spent over 1.5 million nights in Malta, with an average length of stay estimated at 9.7 nights, comparable to last year. Both private accommodation and collective accommodation establishments saw increases of 24 and 14 per cent respectively.

There were slightly more male tourists than female, at 52 per cent, and most tourists fell within the 45-64 age bracket, followed by those in the 25-44 age group.

In the period under review, total tourist expenditure was estimated at €569 million, up by 18 per cent over 2009 levels. Increases were recorded throughout all expenditure categories. Total per capita spend stood at €801, 5.3 per cent higher when compared to the corresponding period last year.

Tourism Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco ascribed the results to the cooperation between the government and tourism stakeholders. “The work to make Malta more accessible via new routes, more overseas advertising and an improvement in the product contributed to our country being chosen by a bigger number of tourists,” he said.

He added that while the results were encouraging, the country should keep its feet firmly on the ground and keep improving its touristic product.

Dr de Marco said that for the country to have a long-term future it should look at responsible and sustainable tourism, which safeguarded, not exploited, the environment.