Minister welcomes increases in tourist arrivals, bed nights

Minister for Tourism Edward Zammit Lewis expressed satisfaction at the positive numbers published by the NSO related to collective accommodation.

Total arrivals in collective accommodation establishments during the month under review numbered 156,747, while total nights spent amounted to 819,874. All hotel categories recorded increases in nights spent, except 4-star hotels. The latter maintained the largest share of guest nights, accounting for 376,164 nights, or 45.9 per cent of the total.

Total arrivals in Malta numbered 148,078, up by 10.0 per cent over May 2013. Additionally, a rise of 2.6 per cent was recorded in the number of nights spent. Meanwhile, the average length of stay in Malta edged down by 0.4 of a night reaching 5.3, while the net occupancy rate went up by 3.6 percentage points to 67.8 per cent.

Total arrivals during the first five months amounted to 562,892, an increase of 10.8 per cent over 2013. Total nights spent went up by 4.4 per cent, reaching 2.9 million. The net use of bed-places went up by 3.0 percentage points to 52.6 per cent

“This is evidence of a continued effort to keep the electoral promise of ‘Work for Gozo, in Gozo,” added Zammit Lewis.

“This success is being confirmed over and over, proven by increased profitability and stability within the tourism industry,” he said. “The government remains committed to keeping up these positive results and improving the touristic product of the Maltese islands.”