174,715 tourists visited Malta in July, an all time record for the month, the National Statistics Office announced today.

It follows records reached in April, May and June.

Tourists in July spent 1,695,087 nights in Malta, an increase of 128,384 (+8.2%) over July last year.

Tourist spending exceeded €190 million, an increase of more than €17 million over July 2011.

Inbound tourists during the first seven months this year were estimated at 781,856, marginally lower when compared to 2011. In a statement, the Ministry for Tourism observed that in the first seven months of this year tourist nights rose by 4.7% to 286,732.

Spending by tourists during the same period reached €683 million, up by €40 million (+6.4%) over the corresponding period last year.

The ministry said this success was the return on government and private sector investment in the tourist product and promotion and the improvement in accessibility.

Routes linking Malta to other destinations have reached 81 from just 45 in 2006, the ministry said.  It also pointed to the various investment assistance schemes it is providing and said it remained committed to seeing this sector grow further.