Around 160,000 tourists travelled to Malta this September

Nov 10 2021

The National Statistics Office has revealed that just under 160,000 visitors made their way to our island in September.

A total of 149,760 tourists visited Malta for holiday purposes, with 6,307 tourists visiting for business purposes. This racks up the amount to a total of 159,908. The largest share of inbound tourists were aged between 25 and 44.

The total nights spent amounted to 1,255,908, with French and Italian residents comprising 19.6% of the total inbound visitors. The average length of stay racked at 7.9 nights.

With total tourist expenditure going over €150.4 million, the average expenditure per night was estimated at around €119.8.

Comparing the first nine months of 2021, inbound tourism racked to 586,234 – an increase of 0.4% over the same period last year.

Total expenditure also saw an increase of 44.3%. This is a massive improvement given the impact of COVID-19.

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Animal welfare confiscates around 20 dogs from Pieta residence with poor conditions

Nov 10 2021

Earlier today, members of the animal welfare directorate confiscated around 20 Pomeranian dogs from a private residence in Pieta. The dogs were reported to be filthy, with some believed to be infected gastrointestinal condition parvovirus. If not treated for the virus, puppies may die of the condition.

The officials arrived at the residence on Wednesday morning and conducted an operation which lasted around an hour, with members of the Malta Police Force on-site to aid the animal welfare directorate in their operation.

The owner of the residence, who is believed to be in his thirties, failed to take the dogs to a veterinary clinic, despite instructions from Animal Welfare.

The owner initially refused to open the door to his residence, with the situation being resolved soon after and the dogs being removed from the premises.

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Byron Camilleri defends his position as Home Affairs Minister

Nov 10 2021

Following prison boss Alex Dalli suspending himself from the role, Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri defending his position, stating that he will not resign. The video response was uploaded by MaltaToday.

He said that he has always taken action on prison deaths in line with the conclusions of the individual magisterial inquiries. This also follows the tragic news that another prison inmate has taken his own life this morning, making it the third of its kind this year.

Camilleri met with the now former prisons director Alex Dalli this morning, reaching an agreement on Dalli’s suspension during the meeting. He also revealed that an interim CEO will be appointed in the coming hours.

Saying that Prime Minister Robert Abela agreed with the suspension, the minister stated that he himself has acted and is obliged to act on the basis of the facts presented to him.

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Two prison guards charged with involuntary homicide of Kim Borg Nicolas Virtu

Nov 10 2021

Two women, aged 41 and 52, have been charged with the involuntary homicide of Corradino Correctional Facility inmate Kim Borg Nicolas Virtu.

The two pleaded not guilty and were charged after the magisterial inquiry, only hours after another Corradino inmate committed suicide and director Alex Dalli voluntarily suspended himself from his position.

Borg Nicolas Virtu was found in her cell, unconscious, on June 16, dying three weeks later despite the prison’s claims that she was not suicidal. The claims have since been dismissed by the victim’s father, telling Times of Malta that his daughter had been “pushed to the bring” after the prison employees “broke her to pieces and shredded her to bits.”

The two women could receive up to four years in prison and the victim’s father looks to file a constitutional case against the state and director.

The next sitting is set for January 13.

Photos: Frank Vincentz / Peppi Azzopardi FB

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