Tourism ministers and operators of the industry, some 300 in all, will be attending the European tourism forum being held on 18-19 November, the second time the forum is being held here, after that of 2005, tourism parliamentary secretary Mario de Maro said yesterday.

In the EU the industry generates five per cent of the gross domestic product, employing some 9.7 million in 1.8 million companies.

It is being organised by the Belgian EU presidency, and will also be attended by Antonio Tajani, vice-president of the EC. Its main theme is the strengthening of the European tourism industry and it will discuss the European action framework.

Tourism in Malta, Dr de Marco said, has seen a record 1,053,348 tourists visiting in the first nine months of this year. Between January and August revenue amounted to €913,972,000.