Malta sees 20.7% surge in November tourism, likely boosted by SiGMA

Malta recorded a significant increase in inbound tourism for November 2024, with a total of 262,896 visitors – a 20.7 per cent rise compared to the same month in 2023.

This notable growth aligns with the timing of SiGMA Europe, held in the same month, which attracted 27,000 delegates and 1,000 sponsors and exhibitors to the island.

Business and leisure travel on the rise

The majority of inbound tourists (232,176) visited Malta for holiday purposes, while 23,652 arrivals were business travellers. The largest share of visitors fell within the 25-44 age group (39.4 per cent), followed by those aged 45-64 (35.5 per cent). British, Italian, and Polish residents made up a combined 44 per cent of total inbound tourists.

The total number of nights spent in Malta increased by 23.5 per cent compared to November 2023, exceeding 1.7 million nights. The vast majority (89.8 per cent) of these stays were in rented accommodation establishments, with the average length of stay reaching 6.5 nights.

Reflecting the rise in arrivals, total tourist expenditure for the month surpassed €241 million, marking a sharp 35.1 per cent increase over the same period in 2023. The average expenditure per night stood at €141.1.

Gozo and Comino also benefitted from the influx of visitors, with 128,043 tourists – 48.7 per cent of total inbound travellers – making their way to Malta’s sister islands for either same-day visits or overnight stays.

Looking at the broader picture, inbound tourists for the first 11 months of 2024 amounted to 3,371,249 – an increase of 19.5 per cent compared to the same period in 2023. Total nights spent by inbound tourists grew by 12.9 per cent, reaching nearly 21.7 million nights.

SiGMA’s impact and future plans

SiGMA Europe undoubtedly played a role in the November tourism surge. While the event showcased Malta’s strong position as a hub for the iGaming industry, it also highlighted the island’s infrastructural challenges.

Heavy traffic in central areas during the conference led to congestion, bringing parts of the island to a standstill.

Looking ahead, SiGMA Europe will relocate to Fiera Milan in 2025, one of the world’s largest expo centres, benefiting from better transport links and infrastructure. However, Malta will retain its position on the SiGMA calendar with the newly rebranded SiGMA Euro-Med, set to take place at the Malta Maritime Hub from 1st to 4th September.

In December, the Founder of SiGMA, Eman Pulis, proposed Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq as the ideal location for a purpose-built expo centre in Malta, suggesting that the project should even include a tunnel to alleviate traffic.