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Tourists Spent Over €385.8 Million In Malta Last September

Tourists Spent Over €385.8 Million In Malta Last September
Nov 12 2024 Share

In September 2024, Malta saw 361,015 inbound tourists, marking a 20.7% increase compared to September 2023.

Most visitors (339,497) came for holidays, while 15,078 visited for business.

Tourists aged 25-44 made up the largest group (36.4%), followed by those aged 45-64 (28.5%). British, Italian, and French tourists represented 47.1% of all arrivals.

Total nights spent by tourists rose by 15.6% to nearly 2.5 million, with 86.8% of these nights in rented accommodations. The average stay was 6.9 nights.

Tourist spending increased by 24.1% over the previous year, reaching €385.8 million, with an average spend of €154.8 per night. Of the total visitors, 62.3% (224,950 tourists) visited Gozo and Comino, either for day trips or overnight stays.

From January to September 2024, Malta hosted 2,766,584 tourists, a 21.1% rise compared to 2023.

Tourists spent almost 17.9 million nights, and total expenditure hit €2.6 billion, up 23.4% from the previous year. Average spending per tourist increased slightly to €926.

Visits to Gozo and Comino accounted for 59.1% of all tourist trips during this period.

#MaltaDaily

Metsola Greets Isabelle Bonnici At EP Parliament

Metsola Greets Isabelle Bonnici At EP Parliament
Nov 12 2024 Share

Taking to social media, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola welcomed the mother of late Jean Paul Sofia, Isabelle Bonnici, at the Parliament.

‘Isabelle personifies the best characteristic of us Maltese’, wrote Metsola. ‘The determination of a victim that keeps insisting on justice; the altruism of a mother that wants no parent to suffer what she suffered; the courage that, despite the massive wounds, justly continued to persist to protect others; and the love of a Maltese that wants to elevate the standards in our country and improve it.’

‘Isabelle, your courage united a country. You gave us an example of what it means to never give up’, concluded Metsola.

Meanwhile on her part, Isabelle said that she is honoured to have met her idol and a woman she greatly admires.

‘A woman who was capable of breaking records in the European Union and Malta whilst remaining humble and close to the people’, said Isabelle.

‘A woman with a stamina that baffles you with energy and positivity. Thank you Madame President Roberta Metsola for this special experience and for giving me so much from your precious time despite your many responsibilities.’

#MaltaDaily

Malta Film Commission Praised For Economic Boost: Urged To Improve Transparency

Malta Film Commission Praised For Economic Boost: Urged To Improve Transparency
Nov 12 2024 Share

The Malta Film Commission (MFC) has successfully attracted major film productions to Malta, helping to generate €231.5 million in film production spending between 2018 and 2022.

This achievement has positioned Malta as a desirable destination for international filmmakers and brought economic benefits, which the NAO report recognizes as a positive return on investment (ROI) largely due to the 40% cash rebate incentive.

However, the NAO emphasizes that this rebate program—awarding a record €47 million to the Gladiator sequel—requires careful evaluation to ensure value for money and alignment with broader socio-economic priorities.

While the government asserts the rebate returns triple its investment in economic impact, the NAO report highlights governance and transparency issues within the MFC.

Notably, it points out that high spending on promotional events like the 2022 Malta Film Week lacks sufficient documentation to prove cost-effectiveness, raising questions about public fund usage.

The NAO also noted that while the MFC’s calculations on job creation and economic benefits are broadly accurate, some employment data includes retained jobs that would be lost without ongoing production activities.

In response to critiques, the MFC has taken steps to improve administrative efficiency, including hiring additional staff, and maintains that its incentives align with industry best practices.

Looking forward, the MFC aims to enhance its infrastructure and further bolster Malta’s competitiveness in the global film market, focusing on long-term benefits balanced with improved transparency and governance.

#MaltaDaily

Ramires Sciberras Takes To Eurovision Stage For Rehearsal

Ramires Sciberras Takes To Eurovision Stage For Rehearsal
Nov 12 2024 Share

Ramires Scibberas had his first rehearsal of many r in preparation for 22nd edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.

The youngster’s song of choice will be “Still Ckejkna” which won hearts when he competed in Malta and will be sung in Madrid on the 16th of Novmeber.

Sciberras had the chance to test out the stage and slowly get used to the atmosphere of the stadium. Apart from busy preparations for the young prodigy, he also got to enjoy sightseeing and enjoying the sites Madrid has to offer.

Good luck Ramires! You got this!

#MaltaDaily