According to a recent report by the National Statistics Office (NSO), Malta’s tourism landscape in 2024 saw strong overall growth, especially in inbound tourism, with notable shifts in domestic travel patterns particularly to the Gozo and Comino region.
A total of 581,440 tourists visited Gozo and Comino, accounting for both inbound and domestic tourism. The majority (69.1%) were domestic tourists, highlighting the region’s continued popularity among Maltese residents. In contrast, the Malta region received 3.5 million tourists, 98.8% of whom were inbound visitors, underscoring its role as the primary gateway for international tourism.
Across all regions, domestic tourism dropped by 2.7% in 2024, totaling 442,322 arrivals. The vast majority – 90.8% (401,766) – were Maltese residents travelling to Gozo and Comino.
Despite the dip in arrivals, overnight stays increased by 5.4%, reaching 1.17 million nights, driven by a longer average stay of 2.6 nights (up from 2.4 in 2023). Total expenditure by domestic tourists was estimated at €73.8 million, with a slight decline in overall spending but a modest increase in per capita expenditure (€166.9).
In Gozo and Comino, domestic tourism in rented accommodation declined by 7.1%, though 59.3% of all nights were still spent in such properties. Expenditure for the region was estimated at €66.5 million, marking a decrease over 2023. Meanwhile, domestic tourism to the Malta region by Gozitans plunged 16.3%, though expenditure rose to €7.3 million, suggesting higher spend per trip.
Inbound tourism to Malta soared by 19.5%, reaching 3.56 million visitors. Most trips (97.5%) were single-centre stays, with Malta region alone accounting for 3.38 million of these.
- Inbound tourist nights across Malta surpassed 22.9 million, with Malta region accounting for 95.3% and Gozo and Comino 4.7%.
- Total inbound tourism expenditure reached nearly €3.3 billion, a significant increase driven largely by longer stays and higher daily spend.
Malta continued to dominate with €3.1 billion in inbound single-centre tourism revenue, with most visitors aged 25-44, and 67.5% coming from EU Member States, especially Italy (26.3%). The vast majority were first-time visitors (79.7%) and preferred low-cost airlines (65.3%).
Inbound tourism to Gozo and Comino as a single-centre destination grew by 9.3%, reaching 88,916 visitors. Though smaller in scale, this segment saw a strong €88.7 million in expenditure (+7.8%). Visitors were primarily aged 45-65, with a significant share from the UK (31.2%). Most arrived via low-cost airlines (62.1%) and preferred non-package trips (82.7%).
Unlike Malta, Gozo and Comino saw the majority of inbound tourists staying in “other rented accommodation” (44.2%), reflecting a more decentralised, boutique travel trend. However, the average stay declined from 9.4 to 8.3 nights.
Twin-centre tourism (visiting both Malta and Gozo) also grew, with 90,759 tourists and 886,655 total nights spent. These tourists were typically younger (25-44), first-time travellers (77.3%), and largely EU-based, particularly from France and the UK. Twin-centre tourists spent €106.2 million, with 92.2% opting for rented accommodation and an average stay of 9.8 nights.
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