Following the release of the collective accommodation statistics [1] compiled by the National Office of Statistics for the whole year (January to December) 2013, the Gozo Tourism Association said that it “notes the positive increase in tourist arrivals, both on national level, as well as those achieved by the Gozitan tourism industry.”
The GTA added that “in fact, foreign tourist arrivals in Gozo registered an increase of 11.7% over the figures registered for the same period in 2012. This increase positively affected the number of bednights spent by foreign tourists on the island. Bednight figures increased by 24, 675 over the previous year, reflecting an increase of 12.6%. The average length of stay of the foreign tourists staying in Gozitan hotels and Guest houses increased to 5.33nights.”
Another component of the Gozitan tourism market is the domestic segment, and the GTA also notes an increase in arrival figures relating to this important segment of Gozo’s tourism market. According to the same NSO figures the number of domestic tourists arrivals in Gozitan Hotels and Guesthouses during 2013 increased by 5.7%.
The GTA also pointed out that “the NSO figures show that this increase in arrivals during the twelve months of 2013, reflected also an increase of 4.5% in the number of nights spent in Gozitan Hotels and Guesthouse. The average length of stay of the domestic tourist for the period January to December 2013 remained at 2.02 nights.”
“When taken cumulatively the above figures represent a net increase of 6,442 more arrivals on Gozo staying in Hotels and Guesthouses from January to December 2013 when compared to same period the previous year, or an increase of 8.7 % .” the GTA said, “this represents an increase of 28, 037 bednights or 10% more spent in Gozitan hotels or guesthouses over the previous year. It has to be noted that these figures only relate to hotels and guesthouses registered in Gozo, and do not include arrivals or bednights in the self-catering sector, which covers the unique farmhouse product as well as the self-catering apartments.”
The Gozo Tourism Association acknowledges the input of the Gozitan Hotels and Guesthouses in this scenario. “These establishments are reaping the results of their extraordinary efforts to increase tourist arrivals and meet and exceed their guests expections.”
“These results were also achieved through the collaboration of all those concerned, and especially the snyergised efforts between the The Malta Tourism Authority, The Ministry for Gozo and its Directorate for Toursim and Economic Development and the Gozo Tourism Association.”
“Whilst acknowledging that these results augur well for better prospects in the Gozitan tourism industry, the Gozo Tourism Association, believes that more has to be done by all stakeholders involved in order to maintain these results, especially during the winter months, a period which tends to neutralise the positive results achieved during the shoulder and high season,” the GTA concluded.