Travel and tourism in Malta - statistics & facts
Malta鈥檚 strategic position in the Mediterranean Sea, its rich history, and its eclectic architectural tradition have long made the island an attractive tourist destination. The country is also considered one of the safest destinations in the world for LGBTQIA+ tourism, according to the Gay Travel Index. After overcoming the challenging years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the local tourism industry has begun to thrive once more. In 2024, the number of travel accommodation establishments in the country reached its highest figure to date, exceeding 350. Similarly, the travel and tourism market鈥檚 revenue in Malta hit an all-time high that year, totaling nearly 50 million U.S. dollars.
Although beach tourism is extremely valuable for Malta, diversifying the country鈥檚 tourism products will be a key challenge in the years to come. Rising global temperatures and the overall impact of climate change on tourism are already influencing how people plan and book their trips, with growing interest in 鈥渃oolcations鈥, namely trips to cold destinations to escape the summer heatwaves. Attracting travelers during the off-peak seasons and becoming less dependent on its coastal attractions could prove more than useful for Malta in competing with other popular European summer travel destinations. It might, in fact, be an essential step in securing the future of the country鈥檚 travel and tourism market.
Which nationalities visit Malta the most?
Although the number of domestic travelers in Malta has grown significantly in the years following the pandemic, inbound visitors still account for the majority of arrivals in the country. In 2024, the number of international tourists in Malta peaked at roughly 3.6 million, denoting an increase of almost 30 percent from 2019. Looking at the number of overnight stays by international tourists on the island, visitors from the United Kingdom reported the highest figure in 2024, followed by travelers from Italy and France. The same three countries also generated the highest inbound tourist expenditure in Malta that year, with British travelers recording higher spending than Italian and French tourists combined.Cruise tourism in Malta
The country鈥檚 hot summer weather and its renowned beaches have helped Malta become one of the leading Mediterranean ports based on cruise passenger volume. In 2024, the number of cruise liner calls in Malta surpassed 360, recovering from the impact of COVID-19. While the pandemic caused a shift in the demographics of cruise passengers in Malta, visitors aged 60 to 79 once again represented the largest group of travelers in 2024, with over 300,000 cruise guests from this age group visiting the island that year.Although beach tourism is extremely valuable for Malta, diversifying the country鈥檚 tourism products will be a key challenge in the years to come. Rising global temperatures and the overall impact of climate change on tourism are already influencing how people plan and book their trips, with growing interest in 鈥渃oolcations鈥, namely trips to cold destinations to escape the summer heatwaves. Attracting travelers during the off-peak seasons and becoming less dependent on its coastal attractions could prove more than useful for Malta in competing with other popular European summer travel destinations. It might, in fact, be an essential step in securing the future of the country鈥檚 travel and tourism market.
