This year, five new hotels or hotel extensions are expected to open their doors to the public, said Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech.

Speaking in Swieqi, Dr Zammit Dimech said these hotels will increase the bedstock in Malta by 1,844 beds. The hotels are the Cavalieri Hotel in St Julian’s, which will have 500 beds, the Radisson SAS Golden Sands Resort and Spa with 642 beds, the Le Meridien in St Julian’s which will have 350 beds, the extension of the Fortina Resort in Sliema with 300 additional beds and the Dragon Hotel in St Julian’s with another 52 beds.

He said a study has revealed that four of the four-star hotels opening this year will attract 37,500 more tourists to Malta, 27,000 of whom are expected to be first-time visitors. Moreover, he said, more hotels are planning extension projects which are expected to increase the bedstock by 710 beds in three, four and five-star hotels.

Dr Zammit Dimech said the projects are being undertaken as a result of the government policies to continuing improving the service tourists receive in Malta. He added that between 2002 and 2004, the percentage of beds in five-star hotels had increased from 9.3 to 12.7 per cent of the total beds availability in Malta.