THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRAVEL IN MALTA 2015

Transcription

1 THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRAVEL IN MALTA 2015 Based on NSO Inbound Tourism News Release, dated 6 th April 2016 MTA Research Unit

2 Students Total Foreign Students to Malta: In year 2015, a total of 75,524 students followed courses at local English language specialised schools in Malta, recording a decrease of 2.6% or 2,026 less students when compared to year During the last ten years ( ), this segment grew by an average annual rate of 2.1%. Total Foreign Students to Malta ,000 61,607 65,983 83,952 83,288 68,918 72,695 69,297 81,911 74,992 77,550 75,524 60,000 20, Years

3 Top Source Markets The majority of students attending English language courses in Malta came from Italy (23.8%), Germany (13.7%) and France (10.1%). Together, these accounted for 47.6% of total student visits. Percentage of foreign students following courses in specialised schools for English Language by citizenship:2015 Other 31.3% Italy 23.8% Germany 13.7% Czech Republic 4.2% Spain 4.3% Austria 5.0% Russia 7.6% France 10.1%

4 Main Source Markets Italy remained the main source market for English language travel with a share of 23.8%. Germany placed second with a share of 13.7%, followed by France, Russia and Austria. The largest absolute decline came from Russia, dropping by 3,709 students when compared to year Other declines came from Libya (-882), Italy (-616), Austria (-525), Spain (-332), Germany (-141), Netherlands (-130) and Belgium (-29). Source markets showing growth potential include the Czech Republic, Brazil, Poland and Turkey. These markets have grown significantly over recent years Absolute change 2015/2014 Percentage change 2015/2014 Market Share 2015 Italy 15,734 12,364 15,712 13,381 18,572 17, % 23.8% Germany 12,643 11,874 11,573 10,846 10,505 10, % 13.7% France 6,911 8,083 8,485 7,592 7,388 7, % 10.1% Russia 7,359 8,238 11,379 11,447 9,429 5,720-3, % 7.6% Austria 3,039 3,464 4,633 3,391 4,276 3, % 5.0% Spain 11,158 7,042 5,962 4,674 3,601 3, % 4.3% Czech Republic 1,558 1,629 1,661 1,497 1,458 3,151 1, % 4.2% Poland 1,493 1,470 1,800 1,991 2,045 2, % 3.6% Switzerland 2,449 2,329 2,116 2,631 2,370 2, % 3.2% Brazil ,199 1,513 2, % 3.1% Turkey 1,122 1,673 2,783 2,303 1,947 2, % 3.0% Japan ,410 1,499 1, % 2.1% Libya 356-1,424 1,679 2,052 1, % 1.5% Netherlands 886 1,034 1, ,216 1, % 1.4% Belgium % 1.0% Other 6,184 7,810 10,686 9,305 8,886 9, % 12.2% Total 72,695 69,297 81,911 74,992 77,550 75,524-2, % 100.0%

5 EFL Students Share of Inbound Tourists Students studying English as a foreign language accounted for 4.2% of total inbound tourists visiting Malta in A substantial share of inbound tourists from Brazil (47.6%) visited Malta for English language learning. Likewise, around one fourth of inbound tourists from Russia and the Czech Republic came to Malta for English language. EL Students (based on students citizenship) 2015 Tourists (based on country of residence) 2015 % Share of Students out of Inbound tourists 2015 Italy 17, , % Germany 10, , % France 7, , % Russia 5,720 21, % Austria 3,751 30, % Spain 3,269 47, % Czech Republic 3,151 12, % Poland 2,749 46, % Switzerland 2,420 35, % Brazil 2,347 4, % Turkey 2,290 11, % Japan 1,593 8, % Libya 1,170 6, % Netherlands 1,086 45, % Belgium , % Other countries 9, , % Total 75,524 1,791, % Note: EL students are based on the Country of Citizenship of the students. Inbound tourists are based on tourists country of residence.

6 English Language Students by Month 2015 On a monthly basis, July was the busiest month for English language with 15,812 arrivals or 20.9% of the annual total. This was followed by August and June with 16.5% and 11.3% of total student arrivals respectively. December was the least busy month, with just under 1,000 students. A similar seasonal pattern was recorded in English Language Students by Month Year ,000 18,000 16,000 14,000 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2, ,812 7,293 5,642 12,467 5,086 4,031 8,557 5,045 3,170 2,517 5, Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

7 English Language Students by Month Abs. Chg. 2015/2014 % Chg. 2015/2014 Market Share 2015 January 2,131 2,240 2,264 2,611 3, % 4.2% February 2,197 2,722 2,608 3,166 4, % 5.3% March 5,270 5,459 5,045 6,505 7, % 9.7% April 5,987 6,441 5,673 6,258 5, % 7.5% May 4,599 4,286 3,912 5,293 5, % 6.8% June 6,901 10,311 11,112 10,411 8,557-1, % 11.3% July 18,142 23,628 19,829 17,207 15,812-1, % 20.9% August 11,493 13,275 11,495 12,261 12, % 16.5% September 5,061 5,880 5,805 5,676 5, % 6.7% October 4,483 4,427 4,009 4,594 5, % 6.7% November 1,997 2,235 2,256 2,639 2, % 3.3% December 1,036 1, % 1.1% Total 69,297 81,911 74,992 77,550 75,524-2, % 100.0%

8 Seasonality As in the previous years, the peak summer months of July to September attracted the majority of students (44.2%). This was followed by the spring months of April to June which attracted 25.6% of students. A negative performance was recorded during the second and third quarters of the year. On the contrary, a positive performance was registered during the off-peak months. Seasonality of Foreign Students Jan-Mar Apr-Jun Jul-Sept Oct-Dec % 25.6% 44.2% 11.1% % 28.3% 45.3% 10.5% % 27.6% 49.5% 9.7% % 25.7% 52.2% 9.4% % 25.2% 50.1% 10.8% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Absolute change 2015/14 Percentage Change 2015/14 Jan-Mar 9,598 10,421 9,917 12,282 14,494 2, % Apr-Jun 17,487 21,038 20,697 21,962 19,298-2, % Jul-Sept 34,696 42,783 37,129 35,144 33,365-1, % Oct-Dec 7,516 7,669 7,249 8,162 8, % TOTAL 69,297 81,911 74,992 77,550 75,524-2, %

9 9.2% 15.1% 5.2% 20.5% 4.9% 11.4% 10.6% 1.4% 3.1% 12.9% 1.3% 9.2% 5.1% 1.4% 8.0% 18.2% 2.2% 6.4% Percent 70.5% 63.2% 84.8% 76.6% 73.2% 85.6% Type of Course Followed During year 2015, the most popular course offered by specialised schools for English language was General English, accounting for 71.3% of students. This was followed by the Intensive English course with a share of 15.2% of total students. Type of Course Followed Year % 6.0% 15.2% Share of Student Arrivals by Nationality and Course Followed: Year % 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Italy Germany France Russia Austria Spain General English English specific purposes* Intensive English Other** * English Specific Purposes includes Business English ** Other includes Exam Preparation Courses, One to One lessons and other courses General English English specific purposes* Intensive English Other** General English was the most popular course amongst all of the studied nationalities. Out of the top six markets, this stood highest amongst Austrian and French students, with a share of 85.6% and 84.8% respectively. One fifth of German students followed the Intensive English course. This was also popular amongst Spanish students with a share of 18.2%. Furthermore, this course was also sought by smaller emerging markets like Colombia and Hungary. The English Specific course, which includes Business English, was followed mostly by Italian students, attended to by 15.1% of Italian students.

10 Type of Accommodation Around three out of four of the student population stayed within accommodation provided by the school. Out of total students, the majority (29.8%) resided with a host family, an increase of 2.5% over last year. 19.2% of students choose to stay in hotel type of accommodation, mainly within 3 star hotels. Hotel accommodation increased by 3.4% over year The remaining one fourth of students stayed in other accommodation not provided by the school. Type of Accommodation Used by Foreign Students Years Hotel 5 Star 0.4% 0.2% 19.2% 18.1% Type of Accommodation Used by Students Year Star 3 Star 7.9% 6.1% 10.9% 11.8% Hotel Other collective accommodation* 13.5% 19.4% 24.5% 19.2% Other collective accommodation* Host families 29.8% 28.3% 12.9% 29.8% 13.5% Host families Self catering accommodation Other ** Self catering accommodation Other ** 12.9% 9.0% 24.5% 25.2% 0.0% 20.0% 40.0% * includes residences, hostels and guest houses ** includes accommodation not provided by the school

11 Student weeks Number of Student Weeks The total number of weeks spent by foreign students in Malta in year 2015 amounted to 238,481, decreasing by 7,106 weeks or by 2.9% when compared to year Total Number of Student Weeks , , , , , , , , , , , ,000 50,

12 No. of weeks Average Length of Stay English language students stayed in the Maltese Islands for an average of 3.2 weeks, remaining at par with year Longer stays were prevalent among students from Colombia (15.9 weeks), Libya (11.9 weeks) and Turkey (7.8weeks). On the other hand, students from Austria (1.2 weeks), Italy (1.6 weeks) and Poland (1.8 weeks) tended to have shorter stays Average Number of Weeks Per Student Average number of weeks per student Year 2015 Colombia 15.9 Libya 11.9 Turkey 7.8 Brazil 6.5 Japan 5.9 Ukraine 4.1 Switzerland 3.3 Spain 3.2 Slovakia 3.0 Russia 3.0 Netherlands 2.8 Belgium 2.8 Hungary 2.7 France 2.3 Germany 2.1 Czech Republic 2.0 Poland 1.8 Italy 1.6 Austria 1.2 Other countries 5.9 Total 3.2

13 41.1% 42.0% 58.9% 58.0% 41.9% 58.0% Age and Gender The largest age group comprised students aged 15 and under with a share of 28.1% followed by those students aged 18 to 25 and with a share of 21.9% and 19.5% respectively. As in the previous years, the number of female students visiting Malta for English language outnumbered male students with a share of 58.0%. During the years of 2010 and 2015, the 17 and under age group registered the largest annual growth rate of 4.03%. Age Group 2015 Male Female Total Market Share 15 and under 8,985 12,261 21, % ,162 8,534 14, % ,231 9,284 16, % ,112 5,642 9, % ,283 4,979 8, % 50+ 1,693 2,793 4, % Age unknown % Total 31,682 43,834 75, % Market Shares 41.9% 58.0% 100.0% 80.0% 60.0% 40.0% 20.0% 0.0% Foreign Students by Gender Female Male Timeseries EL Students by Age Group Absolute change 2015/14 Percentage change 2015/14 AAGR and under 29,495 29,938 40,212 29,940 34,926 35,944 1, % 4.03% years 23,136 19,155 18,927 21,958 19,613 16,518-3, % -6.52% 26 and over 20,064 20,204 22,772 21,678 21,233 22,505 1, % 2.32% Total 72,695 69,297 81,911 74,992 77,550 75,524-2, % 0.77%