Malta Yearbook 1970 : tourist supplement

Abstract

The Malta Government Tourist Board can rightly be proud of the fact that 1968 was a Tourist Record Year which is sure to be eaisly beaten when the full figures for 1969 are published. Since 1959, some ten years ago, when the Tourist Board was set up, tourist figures have multiplied more than ten-fold - from 12,000 they reached 128,000 in 1968. By far the greater number come by air and the ratio is about 16 tourists arriving by air to 1 tourist arriving by sea. From a study of the figures of tourist arrivals some interesting facts are revealed; for example the total for July 1969 was itself equal to the total arrival figures for 1962. As many people came to Malta in 1968 as came in the five years 1960-64. One result from this is that employment prospects in the Malta tourist industry have never been brighter. Some 90% of all tourists come from English speaking countries which is natural enough, as English is widely spoken in Malta, but it would certainly pay to entice citizens of other countries in Europe who are far less aware of the existence of Malta. The money spent by advertising agencies in many newspapers in the British Isles has paid rich dividends this last year. Within a little over a week after the 'Sunday Times' of London carried an 8 page feature, sponsored by the Tourist Board, in January 1969, there were more than 6,000 enquiries addressed to the hotel trade alone. One aspect that must be looked into is to increase winter tourism in Malta so that the industry becomes less seasonal and the hotels are filled the whole year round. Four British Travel Agencies started winter charter flights in November 1969 and that is a step in the right direction. Having achieved so much in such a short space of time it would be gaud to see the Tourist Board equally successful in this direction as it has been in increasing the gross annual figures. It would be an excellent thing also if the authorities could see to the regular cleaning of the beaches both during the hot season as also during the winter period. Many a beach is spoilt by the sea weed and litter that is allowed to accumulate for weeks on end. A plea might be put in for the opening of museums and other places of interest for tourists during the afternoons also during the height of the season.