Prostitution and illegal drugs pumped €24 million into the economy last year, increasing by a fifth over 2014.
The black market economic contribution, seen by the Times of Malta, was calculated by the National Statistics Office and added to the island’s €8 billion GDP figure for 2015 - a significant jump from the €20 million recorded back in 2014. Although no explanation for the increase was given, NSO sources pointed to changing social trends as a possible cause.
Others meanwhile said the significant increase in tourism arrivals could be a major factor.
“The reasons behind the increase are varied. But, without a doubt, when you have more foreigners visiting the island, you get more spending on ‘entertainment’ including drugs and other illicit activity,” the sources said.
The black market figures were added to the country’s GDP calculations as part of an EU-wide review of national accounts sys- tems implemented in 2013. According to details of the new system, less than one per cent of the population were engaged in the prostitution industry.
Figures on how many were involved in the importation and sale of narcotics remained unavailable. The new figures, which are based mostly...
