Inbound tourists in May 2008 are estimated to have increased by 20.5 per cent when compared to the same month in 2007. Year on year, total nights spent increased by 16.8 per cent.

May 2008 - According to the ongoing frontier survey, tourist departures in May are estimated at 131,354, implying an increase of 20.5 per cent over the same month in 2007. The increase reflects primarily a rise in the British, German and Spanish markets, while tourists coming from the USA, Russia and Switzerland registered decreases. Results also show that 87.3 per cent of inbound tourists in May came to Malta on holiday.

Meanwhile, total nights spent increased by 16.8 per cent when compared to the same month in 2007. Year on year, total nights spent in private and collective accommodation increased by 9.0 and 19.0 per cent respectively. Overall, the average length of stay is calculated at 7.3 nights, shorter by 0.2 nights when compared to May 2007.

January-May 2008 - Inbound tourists for the first five months of 2008 are estimated at 447,935, implying an increase of 16.5 per cent over the corresponding period a year ago. In absolute terms, the growth is mostly attributable to an increase in holiday visits, mainly from the German, Italian and Spanish markets. On the other hand decreases were recorded in the Libyan, Swiss and American markets.

89.4 per cent of all inbound visits comprised tourists coming from EU Member States. Although there was an increase in repeat tourism, data show that the overall increase in the period under review was mainly brought about by a rise in first-time visits, with the latter estimated to account for 68.2 per cent of total visits. The largest age bracket comprised tourists aged 45-64, albeit the strongest increase is attributable to the 25-44 age bracket.

Total nights spent increased by 6.3 per cent when compared to the same period in 2007. Nights spent in private accommodation registered an increase of 11.1 per cent, while guest nights in collective accommodation increased by 4.9 per cent. More specifically, guest nights in rented accommodation and in lodging with family or friends increased respectively by 7.0 and 21.4 per cent while total nights spent in owner occupied accommodation registered a minor decrease. Regarding collective accommodation, a 13.3 per cent increase was recorded in 5-star hotel nights, with lesser increases in the 'other collective' and 4-star categories, while 3-star hotel nights registered a decrease. The average length of stay is calculated at 7.6 nights, down by 0.8 nights when compared to last year's level.

In the period under review, total tourist expenditure is estimated at �306.3 million, a decrease of 0.7 per cent over 2007. The growth in non-package was contrasted by a reduction in package expenditure.

The survey results indicate that the per capita total expenditure is estimated at �695, down by 14.0 per cent when compared to the corresponding period last year.