Total inbound visitors for December were estimated at 72,568, an increase of 8.9 per cent when compared to the corresponding month of 2014, the NSO said today.

Inbound Tourism: December 2015

A total of 60,728 inbound tourist trips were carried out for holiday purposes, while a further 6,818 were undertaken for business purposes. Inbound tourists from EU Member States went up by 10.5 per cent to 61,346 when compared to the corresponding month of 2014.

The largest proportion of inbound tourists was aged between 25 and 44, followed by those within the 45-64 age bracket.

Total nights spent went up by 4.5 per cent when compared to December 2014, amounting to 611,353 nights. The largest share of guest nights (55.4 per cent) was spent in collective accommodation establishments.

Total tourist expenditure was estimated at €53.7 million, an increase of 4.0 per cent over the corresponding month of 2014.

January-December 2015

Inbound tourist trips from January to December amounted to 1,791,422, an increase of 6.0 per cent over the same period in 2014. Total nights spent by inbound tourists went up by 5.1 per cent, surpassing 14.2 million nights.

Total tourism expenditure was estimated at €1,643.9 million, 7.5 per cent higher than that recorded for 2014. Total expenditure per capita stood at €918, an increase of 1.4 per cent when compared to 2014.

Speaking at a press conference at the Malta Tourism Authority offices in Valletta, Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis stressed the success seen by the industry last year, highlighting that it would be a challenge to improve upon those figures this year.

Tourism is not a sector that could see results carried forward, with hard work by those in the industry playing a large role in the sector's success, he said.

Comparing 2015 with 2012, the final full year under the PN administration, the minister said that a 25% increase in spending and tourism arrivals could be noted.

This year will see a focus on increasing funds spent by tourists while on holiday on the island, he explained.

Turning to the human capital in the sector, he spoke of the need to keep Maltese workers in the industry.

“2015 fills government with courage to continue having positive results in the tourism sector. This government is not only increasing the number of tourists, but is also making the sector more sustainable by spreading the industry’s success among all months of the year”.