The overall occupancy rate in collective accommodation establishments (net use) went down by 15.7% in May 2009 over the comparative month in 2008, to stand at 48.5 per cent. In Gozo the drop was more pronounced, falling 18.8% to just 35.3% occupancy.

Length of stay and nights spent

In May 2009, the total arrivals in collective accommodation establishments were recorded at 103,141 of which 91,470 or 88.7 per cent were non-resident arrivals.

For the period under review, total nights spent in collective accommodation establishments were recorded at 582,733, a decrease of 22.6 per cent over the corresponding month in 2008, with the largest drops being registered in the 4-star and 3-star hotel categories. In the month under review, the average length of stay stood at 5.6 nights.

Regional overview

Accounting for 95.5 per cent of the national bed-stock, the overall supply of bed-places in Malta stood at 37,319 beds, an increase of 1.4 per cent when compared to May 2008. On an annual basis, the net use of bed-places in Malta went down by 15.6 percentage points to 49.1 per cent. The average length of stay stood at 5.8 nights. Nights spent by non-residents accounted for 96.6 per cent of total guest-nights in Malta, with an average length of stay of 6.2 nights.

In Gozo and Comino, the overall supply of bed-places stood at 1,758 beds, an increase of 2.3 per cent over the comparable month a year ago. The net use of bed-places in May was 35.3 per cent, a decrease of 18.8 percentage points over the comparative month in 2008. The average length of stay stood at 3.2 nights, a decrease of 0.6 nights when compared to May 2008. Nights spent by non-residents accounted for 73.3 per cent of total guest-nights in Gozo

Permalink: May occupancy rate in Gozo falls 18.8% to just 35.3%