Tourist arrivals up by 6.8% in September

Total arrivals and nights spent in collective accommodation establishments during September rose by 6.8% and 6.6% respectively when compared to the corresponding month last year.

The NSO said that the total arrivals in collective accommodation establishments during September under review amounted to 150,907, while total nights spent numbered 893,601.

Nights spent increased in all collective accommodation establishments, with the highest increase recorded in 3-star hotels. The largest share of guest nights was reported in 4-star hotels, accounting for 404,094 nights, or 45.2% of the total.

The average length of stay in collective accommodation establishments stood at 5.9 nights, at par with last year's levels. The net use of bed-places stood at 73%, up by 2.2 percentage points when compared to the corresponding month in 2012.

Moreover, all collective accommodation establishments reported a rise in occupancy levels.

On a national level, there were 159 collective accommodation establishments active during September, with a net capacity of 18,472 bedrooms and 40,832 bed-places. On average, each establishment had 2.2 beds per room.

Total arrivals for the third quarter numbered 466,990, up by 6.8% over the corresponding quarter of last year. On the other hand, resident arrivals dropped by 3.8% to 32,099.

Total nights spent between July and September surpassed 3 million, 5.7% higher than last year. Nights spent by non-residents advanced by 5.8%, whereas resident nights went up by 0.9 per cent.

The occupancy rate for the third quarter was estimated at 80.0 per cent, 1.4 percentage points more than last year. The occupancy rate in hotel accommodation stood at 83%, while that recorded in other collective accommodation establishments reached 64.7%.

Total arrivals and nights spent in collective accommodation establishments in Malta totalled 438,755 and 2.9 million respectively.

The average length of stay stood at 6.6 nights, down by 0.1 of a night when compared to the third quarter last year. Increases were reported in both non-resident arrivals and nights in Malta.

In Gozo and Comino, non-resident nights advanced by 11.0 per cent, whereas resident nights went up by 5.8%, when compared to 2012.

The occupancy rate in Malta increased by 1.2 percentage points, reaching 80.2%, and that in Gozo and Comino advanced by 6.5 percentage points to 76.5%.