The Gozo Tourism Association has issued a statement this evening with regard to the latest tourism statistics for the month of January 2012, released today by the National Statistics Office.

On a regional level, the Gozo Tourism Association said that it “notes with concern the decrease of 545 in cumulative arrivals registered by Gozitan Hotels and Guesthouses. This drop represents a 22% decrease in cumulative arrivals when compared to January, 2011. During the same comparative period a decrease of 757 bednights was also registered in the aforementioned type of Gozitan accommodation, translating into 11.9% less bednights.”

“On the other hand, the average length of stay in Gozitan Hotels and Guesthouses during the month of January, 2012 registered an increase from 2.5 to 2.9 bednights over the same month of last year, GTA said.

The Gozo Tourism Association continued that it “also notes that regional figures were abnormally issued on a cumulative basis, incorporating both the foreign and domestic tourist arrivals and bednights in Gozo. Consequently, this published data is not indicative of certain important factors that differentiate between the foreign and the domestic sectors.”

“From what can be made out, the increase in the average length of stay is indicative of a drop in arrivals from the domestic market.”

The Gozo Tourism Association went on to say that it “would like to draw the attention of all concerned that tourism data relating to Gozo should not be aggregated in a way which may distort the two main sources of arrivals, especially, when one considers the fact that domestic arrivals in Gozitan hotels and guesthouses represent 50 % of total arrivals on the island.”

“The performance of the Gozitan tourism industry can be better assessed, analysed and reviewed only if all relevant data is collected and published according to the appropriate sectors from which it is derived,” GTA concluded.

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