Tourist arrivals in 2013 registered a 9.6% increase when compared to the preceding year, an MHRA survey conducted by Deloitte reveals.

Guest nights increased by 8.7% meaning an increase of more than 138,000 nights. 78% of the increase registered was achieved by hotel accommodation.

In contrast with previous years, hotels took the bulk of tourist arrivals in the last quarter of the past year which halted recent trends of growth by private accommodations.

The results achieved show the tourism sector reaching national record levels, with the hotel industry recording the highest occupancy levels over the last 5-year period, recovering from the dip experienced in 2009 due to the economic recession.

Total of guest nights now exceeded the one million mark per year, with hotels registering an average of 7.25 nights stay while private accommodation registering an average of 10.8 nights.

Reference: www.maltatoday.com.mt