6.1  Supply-side Survey (Operators)

Collective accommodation 

In 2024

… in Malta region guests reached 2,434,848, up by 13.5 per cent from 2023, while guest nights increased by 14.7 per cent.

… in Gozo and Comino region guests increased by 8.1 per cent to 115,543, while guest nights went up by 7.5 per cent.

… largest shares of guests were recorded in the Northern Harbour district (47.3 per cent of total guests). Most guest nights were also spent in the Northern Harbour district (44.9 per cent of total guest nights).

… collective accommodation in the Northern Harbour and Northern districts comprised 85.1 per cent of the non-resident guests.

… the Northern Harbour district took the largest proportion of non-resident guest nights (45.4 per cent).

… most resident guests were registered in the Northern district accounting for 37.9 per cent while most resident guest nights were spent in the Northern Harbour district (37.4 per cent).

… the Northern district had the longest average length of stay, 5.3 nights, followed by the Northern Harbour district (4.2 nights).

… highest net occupancy rate was recorded in the Northern district at 69.8 per cent, followed by the Southern Harbour district at 67.4 per cent.

… largest share of active collective accommodation establishments was recorded in the Northern Harbour district (38.6 per cent), followed by the Southern Harbour district (20.4 per cent).

… largest proportion of bed-places was registered in the Northern Harbour district, at 45.3 per cent of the total bed-places, followed by the Northern district at 40.3 per cent.

Self-Catering Establishments in Gozo and Comino region

As at end of 2024

… total registered self-catering accommodation accounted for 77.4 per cent of total bed stock in Gozo and Comino region.

… other self-catering establishments, comprising of apartments and villas with pool, accounted for more than half of the total active holiday furnished premises.

6.2  Demand-side Surveys (Visitors)

Domestic Tourism

… in 2024, total domestic tourists to and from Malta, and Gozo and Comino regions amounted to 442,322, a decrease of 2.68 per cent when compared to 2023.

Domestic tourists…

• … on average stayed 2.6 nights.
• … mainly belonged to the 25 to 44 age bracket (46.9 per cent).
• … travelled for holiday purposes (42.1 per cent).

Malta residents who visited the Gozo and Comino region for duration of at least one night

• … accounted for 69.1 per cent of total tourists (domestic + inbound) visiting this region.
• … and stayed in non-rented accommodation establishments, increased by 8.1 per cent over 2023, whereas those who stayed in rented accommodation decreased by 7.1 per cent over the same period.
• … spent an estimate of €66.5 million, an decrese of 1.9 per cent when compared to 2023.

… Gozo and Comino residents who travelled to Malta region decreased significantly from 48,478 in 2023 to 40,556 in 2024.

Inbound Tourism

… in 2024, increased significantly from 2,981,476 in 2023 to 3,563,618 tourist arrivals.  More than half of these tourists came to MALTA using low-cost airlines (65.1 per cent).

… inbound tourists visiting only Malta region (single centre destination) …

• … reached 3.4 million, a 1.2-fold increase when compared to 2023.
• … were more likely to stay in rented accommodation establishments (91.5 per cent).
• … on average stayed 6.3 nights, down by 0.3 nights from 2023.
• … mainly travelled by low-cost airlines (65.3 per cent) and by other airlines (32.8 per cent).
• … had an estimated expenditure of €3.1 billion.

… inbound tourists visiting only Gozo and Comino region (single centre destination) …

• … amounted to 88,916, an increase of 9.3 per cent over 2023.
• … were more likely to stay in rented accommodation (74.1 per cent); the majority (59.7 per cent) opted for non-collective accommodation.
• … on average stayed 8.3 nights, down by 1.1 nights when compared to 2023.
• … mainly travelled by low-cost airlines (62.1 per cent) and by other airlines (37.6 per cent).
• … had an estimated expenditure of €88.7 million. Non-package expenditure was almost three times higher than the package component.

… in 2024, same-day visitors to Gozo and Comino accounted for 91.2 per cent of the total inbound visitors to Gozo and Comino, totalling to 1,855,932 visitors.
… inbound tourists visiting both regions during their stay (twin centre destination) …

• … accounted for 2.5 per cent of the total inbound tourists.
• … totalled 90,759, an increase of 17.2 per cent over 2023.
• … were more likely to stay in rented accommodation establishments (92.2 per cent).
• … on average stayed 9.8 nights, down by 0.5 of a night when compared to 2023.
• … travelled mainly by low-cost airlines (58.2 per cent) and by other airlines (37.2 per cent).
• … had an estimated expenditure of €106.2 million. Non-package expenditure was almost six times higher when compared to package expenditure.

6.3  Cruise Passengers

In 2024

… 363 cruise liner calls in MALTA with a total of 849,088 cruise passengers, the latter increasing by almost 34,500 passengers who visited in 2023.

… 30,170 passengers spent at least one night on board their berthed cruise liner.

… 32 cruise liners in Gozo and Comino region with a total of 13,948 cruise passengers.