A record 1,791,422 tourists visited Malta last year, a six per cent increase over 2014 figures, Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis said yesterday.
In a ministerial statement in Parliament, Dr Zammit Lewis compared this performance to the 4.8 per cent growth registered by Malta’s Mediterranean competitors.
Total nights spent by inbound tourists went up by 5.1 per cent, surpassing 14.2 million nights.
The 2015 tourism expenditure was estimated at €1.64 billion, 7.5 per cent higher than that recorded in 2014. Total expenditure per capita stood at €918, an increase of 1.4 per cent when compared to the previous year, he said.
Dr Zammit Lewis also remarked that the efforts to address seasonality were bearing fruit.
A 15.8 per cent increase was registered in visits between January and March and there was a 10.5 per cent growth between October and December. This was coupled with an 11.6 per cent rise in tourism expenditure during these shoulder months.
After a slow start, a record 307 cruise liners visited Malta last year bringing 670,000 passengers. The government was envisaging that in 2016 these visitors will exceed the 700,000 mark, Dr Zammit Lewis said.
After a slow start, a record 307 cruise liners visited Malta last year bringing 670,000 passengers
A significant number of people visiting Malta on a cruise return for a longer stay in the following years, he added.
Opposition tourism spokesman Antoine Borg welcomed the increase in tourist arrivals and thanked the stakeholders, including operators, the Malta Tourism Authority and those whose strategic decisions in earlier years led to this success.
Mr Borg flagged concerns about the marginal decrease in tourists from Germany and asked if the connectivity with this country was being given the due attention.
No progress was registered in the US market that remained stable at 1.5 per cent of total arrivals.
A two per cent decrease took place in the employment and business segment. Mr Borg asked about the wisdom of the amalgamation of the meetings, incentives, conferences and events segment with the conventions division, following restructuring at the MTA.
The Opposition noted that the increase in tourist accommodation took place outside hotels, guesthouses and tourist villages and recommended the proper use of European funds to develop this industry.
Speaking of this year’s challenges, Dr Zammit Lewis identified the strengthening of Air Malta, so it may become a profitable and relevant operator, and improvement in the conditions of employees in the sector.