from the Minister for Tourism
the Seventh consecutive year of record growth
It is indeed a great pleasure for me to pen a foreword to this publication . I would like to start by commending the publishers for their decision to dedicate the appropriate attention to issues relating to the development of Malta ’ s tourism industry , being the fundamental pillar of these islands ’ economy .
Malta has been enjoying an uninterrupted period of year-onyear growth in tourism since 2010 , and we are pleased to note that 2016 has actually been the seventh consecutive year of record growth for our tourism industry . During this period , we have increased volumes , overnight stays and expenditure , extended the ‘ tourist ’ season , widened our motivational base , and achieved growth from a healthy mix of core , secondary and new source markets .
The full year results of 2016 point to the arrival of just under 2 million tourists , who are expected to generate 14.8 million overnight stays , and an aggregate expenditure of € 1.66 billion . This means that until the end of this legislature half a million more tourists would be visiting Malta . This contrasts greatly with the increase in inbound tourists during the last legislature of previous government as the increase reached only 200,000 tourists .
HOSPITALITY MALTA Q1 Q1 | | 2017
9