Malta’s tourism sees a strong start in 2025 with a 12.6% increase in visitors

Malta’s tourism sector started the year on a high note, welcoming an estimated 194,157 inbound tourists in January 2025. This represents a 12.6 per cent increase compared to January 2024, according to new data released by the National Statistics Office (NSO).

The bulk of visitors – 182,177 tourists – came to Malta for holiday purposes, while 8,495 arrived for business-related travel. The most common age group among inbound tourists was 25-44 years (39.4 per cent), followed by those aged 45-64 (34.4 per cent).

Total nights spent by tourists surpassed 1.1 million, marking an 11.4 per cent increase from the previous year. The average length of stay was 5.8 nights, with 85.1 per cent of all guest nights spent in rented accommodation. Notably, total tourist expenditure shot up by 29.4 per cent year-on-year, reaching nearly €142.6 million. The average expenditure per night stood at €126.3.

Tourists from Poland, the UK, and Italy accounted for 46.4 per cent of total arrivals. The strongest increase came from Polish visitors, who saw a notable jump of 47.9 per cent. Meanwhile, the UK remained a key market, contributing 30,134 visitors, a 5.6 per cent increase from January 2024.

EU-based tourists made up 140,754 arrivals (15.2 per cent increase), while non-EU visitors totaled 53,404 (up by 6.3 per cent). Travel by air remained the dominant mode of transport, with 189,900 arrivals, an increase of 12.8 per cent.

Nearly half (47.0 per cent) of all tourists – 91,240 visitors – made their way to Gozo and Comino, either for a day trip or an overnight stay. This figure represents a 19.9 per cent increase compared to January 2024, highlighting continued interest in Malta’s sister islands.

More tourists opted for package holidays in January 2025, with 48,371 visitors choosing this option, marking a 23.1 per cent rise from the previous year. Non-package tourism also grew by 9.5 per cent, indicating a balanced mix of organized and independent travel.

With strong visitor numbers, longer stays, and increased spending, Malta’s tourism industry appears to be in robust health as 2025 unfolds.