The increase in tourist arrivals which last year hit the 1.2 million mark on a national level was also recorded by the Gozitan tourism industry, according to the Gozo Tourism Association.

In fact, tourist arrivals in Gozo registered a rise of 6,634 over 2006, representing a 19 per cent increase.

The number of bed nights went up by 24,653 with the length of stay by foreign tourists averaging 5.24 nights.

A key factor for this success was the introduction of low-cost airlines, the association said.

Quoting National Statistics Office figures, the association said last year, 3,273 more Maltese went for a short break to Gozo over the previous year. This represents an increase of 10.8 per cent with the average length of stay standing at 1.98 nights.

When taken together, the figures represent a net increase of 9,907 arrivals over 2006, or a 15.5 per cent surge, registering 31,901, or 13 per cent, more bed nights spent in Gozitan hotels or guesthouses, the association said.

The figures refer only to hotels and guesthouses registered and do not include farmhouses and self-catering apartments.