Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/919364
11 maltatoday SUNDAY 24 DECEMBER 2017 News Vacation abroad linked to regional affluence and age Holidaying abroad is not everyone's cup of tea but regional disparities could play a part in who opts for a break overseas. If you are under 35 and live in Mellieha you were more likely to have holidayed abroad than someone living in Kercem, the findings of a MaltaToday survey suggest. While 47% of Maltese said they went abroad for a holiday during 2017, a regional breakdown of statistics reveals disparities that tally with affluence and also age. While most of the territory falls in line within seven per cent of the national average, there are two noticeable outliers – Gozo and the Northern region, which includes Mellieha, Mosta and Naxxar. In Gozo, the percentage of respondents that did not go abroad for a holiday stood at 14 points higher than the national average while on the flipside, people living in the Northern region were 14 points more likely to get away from the island for their vacation in 2017. The Southern Harbour region comes close to Gozo with an above average majority opting not to go abroad for a holiday. The regional disparity on holiday choices may be traced to affluence. According to National Statistics Office data, Gozo and the Southern Harbour regions register below average income. But age may also play a part. With Gozo possessing a higher than average population over 65, this could also explain the less 'adventurous' choice when it comes to holidaymaking. The disparity based on age is evident in the results. As expected, people between 18 and 35 are the most likely to go abroad on holiday with 59.1% opting for an overseas vacation in 2017. There is an equal split in the middle-aged bracket with 50% either way opting to go abroad or staying in Malta. The survey shows that the tilt away from travelling abroad for a holiday happens after 50. In the age group between 51 and 65, a minority of 47.3% said they vacationed overseas in 2017. A much larger disparity exists among those aged over 65. Less than a quarter (23.6%) said they went abroad for a holiday. The grey euro is not directed towards holidays abroad, it seems. Whether this is because older people are more tight-fisted or unable to spend money on holidays abroad, is a moot point. Adrian Delia's trust rating enters single-digit territory KURT SANSONE NATIONALIST Party leader Adrian Delia continued to haemorrhage trust as his rating reached an all-time low of 7.2% in December. The MaltaToday survey found that both main party lead- ers lost some of their sheen when compared to the Novem- ber trust barometer although the overall result still sees Prime Minister Joseph Muscat comfortably ahead. Muscat lost 3.3 points from the all-time high registered last month in the aftermath of Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder. However, the Prime Minister was still trusted by an absolute majority for a rating of 50.4%. Delia continued to lose ground, dropping eight points over his performance last November. The Opposition leader's rating entered into single-digit territory in Decem- ber, a worrying prospect for any leader harbouring hopes to become the next prime minister. In November, Delia lost 6.9 points when compared to the October survey. While two consecutive drops are not necessarily an indication of a pattern, they certainly do not bode well for the new year. The survey was carried out between the 6 and 14 De- cember, a period during which three men were charged with Caruana Galizia's murder, the Government con- tinued to face flak from MEPs over the rule of law and the major political parties' were engaged in their end-of- year fund raising telethons. Delia's falling trust rating jars with the record sum col- lected by the PN. This could be indicative of shy Nation- alists, who are not yet convinced Delia is the right man but are still committed to the party they always voted for. However, what is remarkable is the assertive distrust in both political leaders, which is indicative of political fatigue at the end of an extraordinarily tumultuous year. A quarter of those surveyed (24.2%) said they trusted none of the two leaders, a significant jump of 21.1 points from the November survey. This increase is a result of the loss of trust in Muscat and Delia and a greater num- ber of people who shifted from the 'Don't know' catego- ry to 'none of the two'. The December survey found that 18.3% were uncer- tain on who to trust (don't know), a drop of 10.6 points over November. Methodology A telephone survey was conducted between Wednes- day 6 December and Thursday 14 December. 488 re- spondents accepted to participate in the survey. Strati- fied random sampling was carried out in accordance to gender, age and region using NSO data. The margin of error is estimated at 4.2% for a confidence level of 95%. The Trust Barometer December polls bring a lump of coal to Adrian Delia Cartoon By Mikiel Galea Joseph Muscat Adrian Delia Don't know None 24.2% (+21.1pp) 50.4% (-3.3pp) 7.2% (-8pp) 18.3% (-8.9pp) Trust rating for December, with change over November survey in brackets 47% 53% 52.3% 32.3% 15.5% 33.1% 67% 47.6% 31.4% 21% 61.2% 38.8% 51.5% 29.4% 19.1% 47.8% 52.2% 57.3% 27.3% 15.4% 43% 57% 50.2% 35% 14.8% 40.5% 59.5% 44.1% 36.6% 19.3% 51% 49.1% 58.6% 36.9% 4.5% 59.1% 40.9% 75.9% 16% 8.1% 50% 50% 56% 22.1% 21.9% 47.3% 52.7% 38.4% 37.5% 24.1% 23.6% 76.4% 29% 63.3% 7.7% All Gozo Northern Northern Harbour South Eastern Southern Harbour Western 18-35 36-50 51-65 65+ Regions used in the survey The regions are based on the classification determined by the National Statistics Office Southern Harbour: Valletta, Vittoriosa, Senglea, Cospicua, Zabbar, Fgura, Floriana, Kalkara, Luqa, Marsa, Paola, St Lucija, Tarxien, Xghajra Northern Harbour: Qormi, Birkirkara, Gzira, Hamrun, Msida, Pembroke, Pieta, St Julians, San Gwann, St Venera, Sliema, Swieqi, Ta' Xbiex South Eastern: Zejtun, Birzebbuga, Gudja, Ghaxaq, Kirkop, Marsascala, Marsaxlokk, Mqabba, Qrendi, Safi, Zurrieq Western: Mdina, Zebbug, Siggiewi, Attard, Balzan, Dingli, Iklin, Lija, Rabat, Mtarfa Northern: Gharghur, Mellieha, Mgarr, Mosta, Naxxar, St Paul's Bay Gozo: Gozo and Comino Yes in 2017 No in 2017 Yes in 2018 No in 2018 Don't know in 2018 47% 53% 52.3% 32.3% 15.5% 33.1% 67% 47.6% 31.4% 21% 61.2% 38.8% 51.5% 29.4% 19.1% 47.8% 52.2% 57.3% 27.3% 15.4% 43% 57% 50.2% 35% 14.8% 40.5% 59.5% 44.1% 36.6% 19.3% 51% 49.1% 58.6% 36.9% 4.5% 59.1% 40.9% 75.9% 16% 8.1% 50% 50% 56% 22.1% 21.9% 47.3% 52.7% 38.4% 37.5% 24.1% 23.6% 76.4% 29% 63.3% 7.7% 47% 53% 52.3% 32.3% 15.5% 33.1% 67% 47.6% 31.4% 21% 61.2% 38.8% 51.5% 29.4% 19.1% 47.8% 52.2% 57.3% 27.3% 15.4% 43% 57% 50.2% 35% 14.8% 40.5% 59.5% 44.1% 36.6% 19.3% 51% 49.1% 58.6% 36.9% 4.5% 59.1% 40.9% 75.9% 16% 8.1% 50% 50% 56% 22.1% 21.9% 47.3% 52.7% 38.4% 37.5% 24.1% 23.6% 76.4% 29% 63.3% 7.7% Did you go on holiday in 2017, and are you planning a holiday in 2018?