After years of rapid growth, the tourism industry reached a level where the next sensible step was to map out a new strategy focusing on increasing income, a better seasonal spread of visitors and climate friendly travel, the Tourism Ministry said.

A spokeswoman told whoswho.mt that the ministry and the Malta Tourism Authority were working on the new strategy. Once published, Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli would be launching a consultation process with the stakeholders in the industry, she added.

Ms Farrugia Portelli told hoteliers and restaurateurs last week the time was ripe to also focus on quality and not just on quantity when speaking about visitors to the island.

During that meeting, Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association President Tony Zahra underscored the need for a long-term tourism industry plan, noting that the MHRA and the ministry shared a common vision.

Inbound tourist trips in the first 11 months of last year exceeded the 2.6 million mark, growing by 5.3 per cent over the same period in 2018.

The visitors remained here for a total of more than 18.3 million nights - up 3.6 per cent - and spent an estimated €2.1 billion, that is, 4.9 per cent more than in 2018, though, at €814, total expenditure per capita dropped by 0.4 per cent.