UK visitation to the island increased by almost a third last year (+30.6%), although Malta said it enjoyed "strong growth" from most of its top 15 source markets.
These include Poland (+58.3%), Hungary (+35.6%) and the Netherlands (+34%). Total tourist numbers increased to 3.56 million in 2024, up by nearly a fifth (19.5%) compared with 2023.
Malta’s rate of growth places it ahead of destinations like Spain, Portugal, Cyprus and Croatia, and makes it one of southern Europe’s top-performing countries. The European average for growth from 2023 to 2024 was 5%.
Meanwhile, total tourist expenditure in Malta increased by almost a quarter (23.1%) last year from €2.7 billion to €3.3 billion at a per-person average of €924.
Total guest nights went up by 13% to almost 23 million, although average length of stay fell slightly from 6.8 night to 6.4 nights, which Malta put down to "increased flight connectivity and greater travel flexibility".
“The exceptional performance of Malta’s tourism industry in 2024 is a testament to our strategic vision and ongoing investment in the sector,” said Malta Tourism Authority chief executive Carlo Micallef.
“Not only have we exceeded pre-pandemic figures, but we continue to attract high-value visitors year-round, ensuring sustainable growth and efficient use of the country’s resources.”
Dr Charles Mangion, the authority’s chair, added: "2024 is a clear reflection of Malta’s strategic efforts to enhance its tourism offering. The strong growth demonstrates the resilience of the sector and the effectiveness of our initiatives."
