Total arrivals in hotels, guesthouses, aparthotels and hostels in July reached 144,878, an increase of 15 per cent when compared to last year's levels, the National Statistics Office said.

It said that the average length of stay during the month stood at 6.9 nights.

Non-resident arrivals and nights both registered increases over 2009 and stood at 132,972 and 977,390, respectively.

Increases were recorded in the 5, 4 and 3-star hotel categories, as well as in other collective accommodation establishments. The average length of stay for non-residents stood at 7.4 nights, down by 0.2.

Resident arrivals and nights decreased by 13.8 and 12.9 per cent, respectively. However, the average length of stay remained 2.4 nights, unchanged from last year’s.

The overall net occupancy rate in collective accommodation establishments stood at 82.5 per cent, an increase of 10.1 percentage points when compared to last year.

The non-resident occupancy rate was 80.1 per cent, while resident occupancy dropped by 0.3 percentage points. A significant increase was noted in the occupancy level of 3-star hotels and in aparthotel accommodation.

Arrivals in Malta advanced by 14.7 per cent, while total nights rose by 13.1 per cent. Increases were also noted in Gozo and Comino. The occupancy rate in Malta stood at 83.5 per cent, while in Gozo and Comino the estimate was of 59.7 per cent.

The average length of stay for the islands remained almost unchanged when compared to last year, and stood at 7.1 and 3.9 nights, respectively.

The overall net supply of bed-places in Malta was 38,545, down by 1,049 when compared to the corresponding month last year.

Bed-places in Gozo and Comino were down by 50 and stood at 1,701. At a national level, the net number of bedrooms decreased by 500.