Significant Increase in Tourist Arrivals in Early 2024 in Malta
Tourist arrivals in the first four months of the year increased by 25% compared to the same period last year, the National Statistics Office reported. In April alone, the growth rate was 14.8%, highlighting a robust recovery in the tourism sector.
In April, Malta welcomed an estimated 306,279 inbound tourists. Among them, 281,665 visited for leisure, while 16,800 came for business purposes. The largest share of tourists were aged between 25 and 44, making up 35.1% of the visitors, followed by the 45-64 age group at 32.1%. British, Italian, and French tourists accounted for 48.5% of the total arrivals, demonstrating Malta’s popularity among European travelers.
The total number of nights spent by tourists in April increased by 3.8% compared to the previous year, nearly reaching 1.7 million nights. A significant majority, 88%, of these nights were spent in rented accommodation establishments. The average length of stay was 5.5 nights, indicating that visitors are enjoying extended stays on the island.
Tourist expenditure also saw a notable rise. Total spending reached €239.6 million in April, up 19.7% from April 2023. The average expenditure per night was estimated at €142.90. Additionally, the number of tourists visiting Gozo and Comino, including both same-day and overnight visitors, totaled 159,391, representing 52% of the total tourist numbers. This highlights the appeal of Malta's smaller islands as significant attractions.
For the January-April period in 2024, inbound tourists amounted to 888,118, marking a 25.1% increase over the same period in 2023. The total number of nights spent by these tourists rose by 12.7%, approaching 5.1 million nights. Total tourist expenditure for this period was estimated at €646.8 million, reflecting a 26.2% increase from the previous year. The average expenditure per capita also increased slightly to €728, up from €722 in 2023. This sustained growth in tourism underscores Malta's ongoing appeal as a travel destination and bodes well for the local economy.