Mixed results for hotel occupancy in summer

Hotel occupancy trends for July reveal an overall decline in the gross/net use of bed-places by category when compared to the same month last year, according to the National Statistics Office.

This decline is evident across most accommodation establishments except for the 3-star hotel category and tourist villages. The highest net use level for July was recorded in the 4-star hotel category followed by the 3-star hotel category.

The share of overall nights spent for Malta and Gozo decreased by 11.2 per cent from 1,043,329 to 926,706 nights. This was attributed to a decline in both residents and non-residents nights. This decline was evident both in Gozo and in Malta by 27.2 per cent and 10.6 per cent respectively. On the other hand, occupancy trends for August reveal an overall increase in the gross/net use when compared to the same month last year. This increase is especially evident within the 3-star hotel category and tourist villages. The highest net use level for August 2004 was recorded within the 4-star hotel category followed by the 3-star hotel category.

The share of overall nights spent in Malta and Gozo decreased by 0.6 per cent when compared to the same month last year when the average nights spent decreased to 7.6 from 8.1. However there was an increase in the nights spent of the 5-star and 3-star hotel categories and tourist villages of four per cent.

During September an increase in gross/net occupancy levels was recorded when compared to the same month last year. Such an increase is evident within the 5-star, 4-star, 3-star hotel categories and tourist villages. The highest net use level for the month of September was within the 4-star hotel category followed by the 5-star hotel category.

The share of nights spent for Malta and Gozo decreased by 2.6 per cent when compared to the same month last year with the average nights spent decreasing to 6.6 nights from 7.5 nights. However, there were increases in the number of nights spent within the 5-star and 4-star hotel category and tourist villages of 5.7 per cent.