Economic success

• 2.5 million more overnight stays by visitors from abroad in the first half of 2006:

up 1.4 million in June 2006 (31 per cent increase), and 600,000 in July 2006

(11 per cent increase); total overnight stays from January to July up 3.5 million

• 8 per cent increase in overnight stays in towns with populations both

over and under 100,000 in 2006

• Hotel prices increased by 3.4 per cent in June 2006, retail trade rose by 1.9 per

cent on May 2006 and transport services saw substantial growth.

• Second-quarter GDP growth up by 2.4 per cent on same prior-year period,

185,000 additional jobs nationwide