May tourism up 8.3% over 2013

Total inbound tourist trips for May 2014 were estimated at 168,674, an increase of 8.3 per cent when compared to the corresponding month in 2013. Excluding the passengers who stayed overnight on board their berthed cruise ship, this increase amounted to 7.2 per cent.

A total of 140,383 inbound visits were carried out for holiday purposes (84.3 per cent), while a further 13,883 were undertaken for business purposes (8.3 per cent). Most inbound tourists came from EU Member States, while tourists from Non-EU countries increased by 14.3 per cent. The largest proportion of inbound tourists were aged between 45 and 64, followed by those within the 25-44 age bracket.

Total nights spent went up by 2.6 per cent when compared to May 2013, reaching over 1.1 million nights. Guest nights spent in collective accommodation establishments, with a proportion of 70.3 per cent, comprised the highest share of total nights.

Total tourist expenditure was estimated at €138.2 million, an increase of 3.4 per cent over the corresponding month a year earlier.

Inbound tourism from January to May amounted to 551,328, an increase of 8.7 per cent over the same period in 2013. Total nights spent by inbound tourists went up by 6.7 per cent, surpassing 3.9 million nights.

During the period under review, total tourism expenditure was estimated at €429.6 million. This estimate is 7.6 per cent higher than that recorded for the same period in 2013.

Total per capita expenditure stood at €785, a marginal decrease over the previous
year.