Hotels and restaurants reported good business during the festive season, which brought to an end another record-breaking year in terms of tourist arrivals.

While official statistics for 2018 have yet to be published, by October Malta had already attracted more visitors than in the whole of 2017, which itself was a record-breaking year with 2.3 million tourists.

Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association president Tony Zahra said the past few weeks of the year were characterised by a positive business sentiment. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association president Tony Zahra said the past few weeks of the year were also characterised by a positive business sentiment.

“The feedback received so far both in terms of hotel occupancy and from restaurant owners was positive. I have received no complaints about the festive season,” Mr Zahra remarked.

He noted that one of the reason for this success was the higher availability of seats on Malta-bound flights when compared to previous years. Good weather also had a positive impact on last-minute bookings, he pointed out.

“It seems the spell of fine weather recorded last December gave Malta the edge when compared to other destinations,” Mr Zahra said.

The positive sentiment was also echoed in the entertainment industry particularly in Gozo, which attracted huge crowds over Christmas and the New Year. Valletta-based businesses also have done very well, with an estimated crowd of 70,000 flocking to the capital for the New Year’s Eve celebration.

Restaurant, nightclub and bar owners outside Valletta complained the New Year’s Eve event in the capital badly affected their business because potential clients stayed away.

Businesses in Gozo reported a bumper holiday season as more people than usual crossed over to spend New Year’s Eve there. Bars, restaurants, hotels and private accommodation had all experienced a busy period, mainly due to the influx of both domestic and foreign tourists.

According to the National Statistics Office, inbound tourist trips for the first 10 months of last year surpassed 2.3 million, that is, 300,000 more than the whole of 2017. In terms of expenditure, there was a 5.5 per drop when compared to the corresponding period of 2017. Each tourist is estimated to have spent €825 this year.