Such a decline is particularly evident across most of the accommodation establishments under study namely aparthotels, guesthouses, hostels and four-star, three-star and two-star hotel categories.

Such a decline is consistent with a decrease in the total number of nights stayed at the mentioned establishments, which was accompanied by a combination of other factors – namely a fall in the number of residents staying and an increase in the number of bed-places. On the other hand, an increase in net occupancy levels was revealed in tourist villages and the five-star hotel category.

In April, the highest overall occupancy levels were recorded in the five-star and four-star hotel categories as reflected from collective accommodation establishments in Malta being 67.1 per cent and 58.2 per cent.

The number of arrivals in Maltese establishments increased by 0.8 per cent while the number of nights fell by 3.8 per cent depicting a shorter length of stay at 6.6 nights from seven nights in the same month last year. Such a change was attributed to both residents and non-residents, whose length of stay was shorter this year than last year.

This was partly a consequence of the increase in the number of residents and the decrease in the number of nights spent. In general, Maltese accommodation establishments experienced an overall decline when compared to last year, which is in particular highlighted within the two-star hotel category.

Gozitan accommodation establishments also experienced an overall decline in gross/net use across most of the accommodation establishments, where the highest occupancy levels were recorded in the 5-star and 3-star hotel categories respectively at 44.7 per cent and 40.4 per cent.

The number of arrivals fell by 4.5 per cent while the number of nights stayed dropped by 8.1 per cent when compared to the same month last year. Such a decline was mainly attributed to the decrease in non-residents and non-resident nights.

Resident nights in Gozo increased by 8.2 per cent but with the length of stay going down to 1.9 nights from 2.7 nights for the same month last year.