Tourists departing to France increased by 3,194 over the same month last year. Other markets recording increases in departures included those of Belgium, the UK, Sweden, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Russia, Norway and a group of “other” markets.

On the other hand, departing Italian tourists accounted for 5.6 per cent of all tourist departures – a fall of 9.9 per cent. Other falls in tourist departures were recorded from, amongst others, the Danish, Dutch, US and the Libyan markets.

Tourist departures: January – June

In the period under review, tourist departures by air increased by 0.3 per cent over the same period last year and reached 471,407. In the comparable period last year tourist departures by air reached 470,138.

The Italian market, which accounted for approximately 7.1 per cent of all tourist departures during the period under review, increased by 3,221 tourists or 10.6 per cent.

Other markets recording increases in tourist departures included those of Belgium, Denmark, the US, Norway, France, Switzerland, Sweden and a group of “other” markets.

Around 42.3 per cent of the tourists departing during this period were from Britain, a fall of 1.9 per cent over the same period last year. Other declining markets included the Austrian, the German, the Dutch and the Libyan markets.

Purpose of visit

In the period under review, holiday-makers accounted for 85.8 per cent of all visitors, while business visitors accounted for 6.9 per cent. This shows a decline in the proportion of business travellers to Malta when compared to the same period last year, when business tourists accounted for 7.9 per cent of all tourist departures.

Accommodation

It is estimated that in the first six months this year, the number of nights spent in the Maltese Islands by tourists departing by air amounted to a total of 4,493,150, a fall of 2.1 per cent over the same period last year.

The number of nights spent in hotel accommodation accounted for 67 per cent of the total nights spent. In the period under review, a total of 366,394 tourists, or 77.7 per cent, stayed in hotels – an increase of 9.4 per cent over the previous year.

Tourism expenditure

In the period under review, expenditure on package tours to the Maltese Islands was estimated at Lm81.7 million – a decrease of Lm4.0 million or 4.7 per cent over last year.

Non-package tourists spent Lm18 million on airfares and Lm10.8 million on accommodation, thereby reducing total expenditure on non-package travel by approximately Lm3.6 million or 11.2 per cent over the first six months of last year.

Other expenditure accruing to both package and non-package tourists fell by Lm2.1 million to Lm56.1 million from Lm58.2 million in the same period last year.

In the period under review, total expenditure declined by Lm9.7 million or 5.5 per cent to Lm166.6 million. As a result, per capita expenditure decreased to Lm176.7 from Lm187.5 in the same period last year.

Tourists departing to France increased by 3,194 over the same month last year. Other markets recording increases in departures included those of Belgium, the UK, Sweden, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Russia, Norway and a group of “other” markets.

On the other hand, departing Italian tourists accounted for 5.6 per cent of all tourist departures – a fall of 9.9 per cent. Other falls in tourist departures were recorded from, amongst others, the Danish, Dutch, US and the Libyan markets.

Tourist departures: January – June

In the period under review, tourist departures by air increased by 0.3 per cent over the same period last year and reached 471,407. In the comparable period last year tourist departures by air reached 470,138.

The Italian market, which accounted for approximately 7.1 per cent of all tourist departures during the period under review, increased by 3,221 tourists or 10.6 per cent.

Other markets recording increases in tourist departures included those of Belgium, Denmark, the US, Norway, France, Switzerland, Sweden and a group of “other” markets.

Around 42.3 per cent of the tourists departing during this period were from Britain, a fall of 1.9 per cent over the same period last year. Other declining markets included the Austrian, the German, the Dutch and the Libyan markets.

Purpose of visit

In the period under review, holiday-makers accounted for 85.8 per cent of all visitors, while business visitors accounted for 6.9 per cent. This shows a decline in the proportion of business travellers to Malta when compared to the same period last year, when business tourists accounted for 7.9 per cent of all tourist departures.

Accommodation

It is estimated that in the first six months this year, the number of nights spent in the Maltese Islands by tourists departing by air amounted to a total of 4,493,150, a fall of 2.1 per cent over the same period last year.

The number of nights spent in hotel accommodation accounted for 67 per cent of the total nights spent. In the period under review, a total of 366,394 tourists, or 77.7 per cent, stayed in hotels – an increase of 9.4 per cent over the previous year.

Tourism expenditure

In the period under review, expenditure on package tours to the Maltese Islands was estimated at Lm81.7 million – a decrease of Lm4.0 million or 4.7 per cent over last year.

Non-package tourists spent Lm18 million on airfares and Lm10.8 million on accommodation, thereby reducing total expenditure on non-package travel by approximately Lm3.6 million or 11.2 per cent over the first six months of last year.

Other expenditure accruing to both package and non-package tourists fell by Lm2.1 million to Lm56.1 million from Lm58.2 million in the same period last year.

In the period under review, total expenditure declined by Lm9.7 million or 5.5 per cent to Lm166.6 million. As a result, per capita expenditure decreased to Lm176.7 from Lm187.5 in the same period last year.