6.1 Supply-side Survey (Operators)
This chapter presents a regional dimension of tourism statistics in MALTA, mainly based on survey data collected from ongoing direct enquiries with industry operators and visitors. The content is structured in three distinct sections: (i) the performance of collective accommodation establishments as reported by operators; (ii) regional tourism demand comprising domestic and inbound tourism as declared by visitors; and (iii) main characteristics of cruise passengers.
Salient Points
6.1 Supply-side Survey (Operators)
Collective accommodation
In 2024
… in Malta region guests reached 2,434,848, up by 13.5 per cent from 2023, while guest nights increased by 14.7 per cent.
… in Gozo and Comino region guests increased by 8.1 per cent to 115,543, while guest nights went up by 7.5 per cent.
… largest shares of guests were recorded in the Northern Harbour district (47.3 per cent of total guests). Most guest nights were also spent in the Northern Harbour district (44.9 per cent of total guest nights).
… collective accommodation in the Northern Harbour and Northern districts comprised 85.1 per cent of the non-resident guests.
… the Northern Harbour district took the largest proportion of non-resident guest nights (45.4 per cent).
… most resident guests were registered in the Northern district accounting for 37.9 per cent while most resident guest nights were spent in the Northern Harbour district (37.4 per cent).
… the Northern district had the longest average length of stay, 5.3 nights, followed by the Northern Harbour district (4.2 nights).
… highest net occupancy rate was recorded in the Northern district at 69.8 per cent, followed by the Southern Harbour district at 67.4 per cent.
… largest share of active collective accommodation establishments was recorded in the Northern Harbour district (38.6 per cent), followed by the Southern Harbour district (20.4 per cent).
… largest proportion of bed-places was registered in the Northern Harbour district, at 45.3 per cent of the total bed-places, followed by the Northern district at 40.3 per cent.
Self-Catering Establishments in Gozo and Comino region
As at end of 2024
… total registered self-catering accommodation accounted for 77.4 per cent of total bed stock in Gozo and Comino region.
… other self-catering establishments, comprising of apartments and villas with pool, accounted for more than half of the total active holiday furnished premises.
Charts
6.1.1. Total guests and guest nights in collective accommodation by type, region
(NUTS 3) and year
Comparison of resident and non-resident guests across Malta and Gozo &
Comino
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6.1.2. Total guests and guest nights in collective accommodation by type of
accommodation and year
Breakdown by hotel categories and other collective accommodation
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6.1.3. Net use of bed-places in collective accommodation by type of guest, region
(NUTS 3) and year
Bed-place usage percentage by resident and non-resident guests
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6.1.4. Resident and non-resident guests in collective accommodation by district (LAU
1) and year
Guest distribution across Maltese districts
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6.1.5. Resident and non-resident nights in collective accommodation by district (LAU
1) and year
Night stays distribution across Maltese districts
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6.1.6. Net use of bed-places in collective accommodation by resident and
non-resident guests by district (LAU 1) and year
Bed-place usage percentage by district
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6.1.7. Net use of bedrooms in collective accommodation by resident and non-resident
guests by district (LAU 1) and year
Bedroom usage percentage by district
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6.1.8. Accommodation Distribution
Reference year: 2024
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Tables
Methodological Notes
Collective Accommodation Establishments Survey (Accomstat)
1. The data provided in this chapter is based on the latest data published by the National Statistics Office i.e. News Release 040/2025 – Collective Accommodation Establishments: Q4/2024. The information contained in this chapter is subject to revision.
2. The objective of the Survey on Collective Accommodation Establishments is to estimate the utilisation rate of bed-places of all active collective accommodation establishments in Malta and Gozo and Comino. The variables collected from the survey include:
− Number of residents;
− Number of non-residents;
− Nights spent by residents;
− Nights spent by non-residents;
− Number of room nights sold to non-residents;
− Number of room nights sold to residents;
− Number of bedrooms;
− Number of bed-places;
− Number of days the establishment was closed during the month under review.
The collection of the above variables and the calculation of occupancy levels are in line with Regulation (EU) No. 692/2011.
3. The survey is distributed monthly to all collective accommodation establishments, namely hotels, guesthouses, hostels and tourist villages.
4. The Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) classification of all accommodation categories are found in Legal Notice 351 of 2012.
5. Users are advised that comparisons between non-resident arrivals recorded in the Inbound Tourism survey (Tourstat, demand-side) and the Collective Accommodation survey (Accomstat, supply-side), should be undertaken in the knowledge that discrepancies will be found. These are mainly due to differences in definitions and methodologies. For more details, one can consult Concept 15.4 of the NSO’s metadata file.
6. In view of the COVID-19 situation, guests accommodated in any collective accommodation establishment, and for which their stay was related to health or safety reasons (not related to tourism purposes), have been considered out-of-scope for tourist accommodation statistics and therefore, not recorded for March 2020-March 2022.
7. Definitions:
● Bedroom: a unit formed by one room or group of rooms constituting an indivisible rental whole in an accommodation establishment or dwelling.
● Bed-place: in an establishment, this is determined by the number of persons who can stay overnight in the establishment, not taking into account any extra beds that may be provided to clients on request.
● Non-residents: foreigners who do not necessarily follow the definition of a tourist and check into/out of a collective accommodation establishment.
● Residents: Maltese/Gozitan residents who check into/out of a collective accommodation establishment. A person is considered to be a Maltese/Gozitan resident if:
(a) S/he has lived for most of the past 12 months in Malta/Gozo and Comino;
(b) S/he has lived in Malta/Gozo and Comino for less than 12 months but intends to return within a year to settle here.
● Total guests: the total number of residents and non-residents.
● Total nights spent: the total number of nights which guests actually spend or are registered to spend in a collective accommodation establishment.
● Net use of bed-places: the net occupancy rate calculated for all active accommodation establishments, net of seasonal closures and other temporary closures. The occupancy of bed-places is calculated by dividing the total nights during the reference period by the number of bed-places and the number of days when the bed-places are actually available for use during the reference period. The result is then multiplied by 100 to express the occupancy rate as a percentage.
● Average length of stay: the number of nights spent divided by the number of guests during a specified reference period.
