The Malta Tourism Authority said in a statement today that growth in the number of arrivals and nights spent was recorded by collective accommodation establishments in October 2015, according to statistics published yesterday by the National Statistics Office.
"During the month of October in Gozo, arrivals and nights in collective accommodation increased +9.5% in arrivals and +6.2% in nights spent," the MTA said.
MTA CEO Paul Bugeja, said that the higher growth rates registered in Gozo in October 2015 confirm MTA's strategy to market the island as a destination in its own right.
A total of 158,969 tourists stayed in collective accommodation in Malta and Gozo in October 2015, registering an increase of 4.1% over same month last year. Total nights spent in hotels and similar establishments amounted to 876,000, 33,992 nights more or +4.0% when compared to October 2014. The average length of stay remained constant at 5.5 nights, the MTA said.
"During the month of October, arrivals and nights in collective accommodation increased for both mainland Malta and Gozo."
The MTA added that whilst all accommodation categories registered increases, October was particularly positive for the lower category establishments; 3 star and 2 star hotels show an increase in arrivals of 9.5% and 15.3% respectively.
Furthermore, the MTA noted, all accommodation categories recorded higher occupancy rates compared to October 2014. Total occupancy rate for October 2015 stood at 69.7%, 2.9 percentage points more over same month a year ago.
"A positive performance was recorded for the period January to October 2015, with total arrivals and nights in collective accommodation estimated at 1,389,922 tourists and 7,906,880 nights respectively; this is equivalent to an increase of 2.0% in arrivals and 1.5% in nights spent."
The overall net occupancy rate for the first eight months of this year stood at 67.3%, up by 1.7 percentage points over the same period last year. Cumulative increases in arrivals and nights were recorded by hotel accommodation in both mainland Malta and Gozo.
MTA CEO Paul Bugeja noted his satisfaction in the positive improved performance in collective accommodation establishments recorded in both mainland Malta and Gozo in October 2015 and cumulative period January to October 2015.
Photograph: Alain Salvary