Total outbound tourists for the fourth quarter of 2019 were estimated at 193,590, an increase of 5.2 per cent over the corresponding quarter of 2018. Total outbound tourists in 2019 numbered 706,797, an increase of 6.0 per cent over 2018, the NSO said today.

October-December 2019

During the fourth quarter of 2019, outbound tourists towards EU and non-EU countries increased by 2.0 and 27.5 per cent respectively, when compared to the same quarter of 2018. Italy and the United Kingdom remained the most popular destinations, with a joint share of 47.1 per cent of the total outbound tourists.

Total nights spent by outbound tourists increased by 5.4 per cent, amounting to almost 1.3 million nights. In absolute terms, the majority of guest nights (52.6 per cent) were spent in non-rented accommodation establishments.

Total estimated expenditure by outbound tourists between October and December of 2019 increased by 7.9 per cent over the same quarter of 2018, and stood at €160.1 million, equivalent to an average of €827 per capita.

January-December 2019

Total outbound tourists in 2019 numbered 706,797, an increase of 6.0 per cent over 2018. Total nights spent by outbound tourists went up by 2.9 per cent, surpassing 4.6 million nights. In addition, the total estimated expenditure by outbound tourists stood at €606.2 million, 7.6 per cent higher than that recorded for the same period of 2018.