NSO Malta | Regional Tourism: 2022

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Regional Tourism: 2022

NR131/2023

Release Date: 26 July 2023

The total number of inbound and domestic tourists who visited the Gozo and Comino region during 2022 amounted to 460,514 and reached 2,259,454 for the Malta region.

The figures presented in Tables 1-5 were weighted on the population as estimated by the results of the 2021 Census of Population and Housing. In view of this, the revised figures for 2021 supersede the previous figures published in the news release NR 129/2022 of the 26th of July 2022′. As a result of this revision, there is a temporary break in series. Therefore, currently it is not possible to compare the figures in this news release with the previously published time series.

Overview

In 2022, the total number of inbound and domestic tourists who visited the Gozo and Comino region amounted to 460,514 (Tables 1 and 6). Domestic tourists accounted for 72.0 per cent of total tourism demand within this region. The total number of inbound and domestic tourists who visited the Malta region reached 2.3 million, with inbound tourists accounting for 98.3 per cent of total tourists visiting this region (Charts 1a).

Chart 1a. Domestic and inbound tourists by region

Chart 1b. Nights spent by domestic and inbound tourists by region

2.3 million

0.5 million

15.8 million

1.8 million

Domestic tourism

During 2022, domestic tourism across regions stood at 369,000 total arrivals, a decrease of 5.0 per cent when compared to 2021. Malta residents travelling to Gozo and Comino region totalled 331,455, or 89.8 per cent of total domestic tourists. Most of domestic tourists travelled for holiday purposes (83.9 per cent) and spent between 1 and 3 nights (81.4 per cent) (Table 1). The average length of stay decreased from 2.8 to 2.7 nights compared with 2021 levels (Table 1 and Chart 2a). Domestic tourist nights totalled 996,671, a decrease of 7.9 per cent over 2021 (Table 3). Total expenditure by domestic tourists was estimated at €63.4 million, a decrease of 20.0 per cent when compared to the previous year (Table 4). The average expenditure per capita stood at €171.9, a decrease of €32.0 over 2021 (Table 5).

Chart 2a. Domestic tourism by region

2021-2022

Chart 2b. Nights spent by domestic tourists by region

2021-2022

Chart 3. Total guests and nights spent by domestic tourists

Domestic tourism to Gozo and Comino region

Domestic tourists to Gozo and Comino region, who stayed in rented accommodation amounted to 198,738, a decrease of 6.5 per cent over 2021. More than half of the domestic stays in rented accommodation (59.9 per cent) were in other rented accommodation establishments (Table 2).

The majority of domestic tourist nights (63.1 per cent) were in rented accommodation, of which 68.9 per cent were spent in other rented accommodation (Table 3).

Domestic tourism expenditure in Gozo and Comino region was estimated at almost €57.8 million, a decrease of 23.1 per cent over 2021 (Table 4).

Domestic tourism to Malta region

Gozo and Comino residents who travelled to Malta region in 2022 as domestic tourists increased significantly from 27,466 in 2021 to 37,545 in 2022, an increase of 36.7 per cent (Table 1).

Slightly more than half (54.5 per cent) of domestic tourism nights by Gozo and Comino residents who travelled to Malta region were spent in non-rented accommodation (Table 3). In 2022, domestic tourism expenditure in Malta region was estimated at almost €5.7 million, an increase of €1.5 million over 2021 (Table 4).

Inbound tourism

In 2022, inbound tourists in MALTA increased by 1.3 million persons, reaching 2,286,597 tourists. Single centre destination inbound tourism accounted for the majority of the trips (97.2 per cent) and the rest being twin centre destination trips (Table 6 and Chart 4).

Total nights spent by inbound tourists to MALTA surpassed 16.6 million, an increase of 8.2 million nights over 2021. Nights spent by single centre inbound tourists accounted for 95.9 per cent of total nights spent in MALTA. The remaining were nights spent on twin centre destination trips. Inbound tourist nights in the Malta region accounted for 94.6 per cent of the total, while the Gozo and Comino region accommodated 5.4 per cent of the total nights (Table 6).

In 2022, total expenditure by inbound tourists to MALTA reached €2.0 billion. Expenditure by inbound tourists on single centre destination trips accounted for 96.7 per cent of total (Table 12).

Chart 4. Inbound tourists by itinerary, region and year

Single centre destination trips: Malta region

In 2022, inbound tourists to Malta region as a single centre destination reached 2,157,538 tourists. Most of the inbound tourists were aged between 25 and 44 (39.8 per cent) and came from EU Member States (70.0 per cent) but the strongest market was the United Kingdom (18.4 per cent). More than half of the single centre inbound tourists (60.5 per cent) travelled by low-cost airlines and 37.1 per cent by other airlines. First-time tourists accounted for 75.8 per cent (Table 7).

The majority of single centre inbound tourists to Malta region, stayed in collective accommodation (65.2 per cent). Nights spent by inbound tourists to Malta region as a single centre destination went up when compared to 2021, reaching almost 15.3 million nights (Tables 10 and 11).

Total expenditure by inbound tourists to Malta as single centre destination surpassed €1.8 billion (Table 12).

Single centre destination trips: Gozo and Comino region

Inbound tourists who visited Gozo and Comino region as a single centre destination amounted to 64,687, more than double compared 2021. This accounted for 50.1 per cent, of the total inbound tourists to Gozo and Comino region (Table 6). The majority came from EU Member States (56.0 per cent), even though the United Kingdom was the strongest market (32.4 per cent). Most were aged between 25 and 44 (35.9 per cent). Non-package trips accounted for 87.6 per cent of inbound tourists to Gozo and Comino region. More than half of the single centre inbound tourists to Gozo and Comino region, travelled by low-cost airlines (57.2 per cent) (Table 8).

In contrast to single centre Malta region, the majority of single centre tourists to Gozo and Comino region, 47.0 per cent, stayed in other rented accommodation. Nights spent by inbound tourists to Gozo and Comino region on single centre trips amounted to 642,635 nights (Tables 10 and 11). In 2022, the average length of stay of single centre inbound tourists to Gozo and Comino region decreased by 1.9 nights from 11.8 nights to 9.9 nights (Table 8).

Expenditure by inbound tourists to Gozo and Comino region as single centre destination was estimated at €62.4 million in 2022, an increase compared to previous year (Table 12).

Twin centre destination trips

In 2022, inbound tourists who visited Malta and Gozo and Comino regions as twin centre destination totalled 64,372. The largest share of twin centre inbound tourists were in the 25-44 age bracket (44.5 per cent). The majority of inbound tourists on twin centre trips were first-time tourists (79.2 per cent) and came from EU Member States (73.8 per cent) with the strongest market being France (19.3 per cent). The United Kingdom was also a strong market (15.3 per cent). More than half of the twin centre inbound tourists travelled by low-cost airlines (51.9 per cent) (Table 9).

A high proportion of twin centre tourists stayed in rented accommodation (89.9 per cent). Total nights spent by twin centre tourists increased, amounting to 675,889 nights. The majority of inbound twin centre tourist nights, 41.1 per cent, were spent in other rented accommodation, followed by 40.6 per cent in collective accommodation (Tables 10 and 11). In 2022, the average length of stay of inbound tourists visiting both regions stood at 10.5 nights, a decrease of 0.3 nights compared to 2021 (Table 9).

Total expenditure spent by twin centre tourists was estimated at €67.2 million in 2022. Non-package expenditure by twin centre inbound tourists was almost five times higher, when compared to package expenditure. All expenditure categories registered significant increases over 2021 (Table 12).

Chart 5. Nights spent by Malta residents in Gozo/Comino region by type of accommodation in 2022

Chart 6. Nights spent by Gozo/Comino residents in Malta region by type of accommodation in 2022

Chart 7. Expenditure per capita by domestic tourists by region of destination and expenditure category

2022

Additional Tables and Charts

Table 1. Profile of domestic tourists

Table 2. Domestic tourists by year, region of destination and type of accommodation

Table 3. Total nights spent by domestic tourists by year, region of destination and type of accommodation

Table 4. Total expenditure by domestic tourists by year, region of destination and expenditure category

Table 5. Average expenditure by year per capita and per night by domestic tourists and expenditure category

Table 6. General overview of inbound tourism to MALTA by year, itinerary and region

Table 7. Profile of inbound single centre destination tourists to Malta region by year

Table 8. Profile of inbound single centre destination tourists to Gozo and Comino region by year

Table 9. Profile of inbound twin centre destination tourists to Malta and Gozo and Comino regions by year

Table 10. Inbound tourists by year, itinerary, region and type of accommodation

Table 11. Total nights spent by inbound tourists by year, itinerary, region and type of accommodation

Table 12. Total expenditure by inbound tourists by year, itinerary, region and expenditure category

All Tables

Methodological Notes

1. The figures presented in Tables 1-5 were weighted on the population as estimated by the results of the 2021 Census of Population and Housing. In view of this, the revised figures for 2021 supersede the previous figures published in the news release NR 129/2022 of the 26th of July 2022′. As a result of this revision, there is a temporary break in series. Therefore, currently it is not possible to compare the figures in this news release with the previously published time series.

2. This release focuses on domestic and inbound tourism overnight stays. Users should be aware that domestic same-day visits and overnight stays within the same region of origin, such as, day-trips to Gozo and Comino region and weekend breaks in Malta region by Malta residents, are not included within the scope of this news release. Domestic tourism excludes individuals aged 0 to 14 years. Regional flows of inbound tourism exclude same-day visits across regions and classify trips into two components: single centre destination and twin centre destination.

3. In 2014, the National Statistics Office has introduced a new tool to measure National Tourism to satisfy the concepts and definitions as outlined by Eurostat. The collection consists of tourism demand data on domestic and outbound trips as required by Regulation (EC) No. 692/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning statistics on tourism statistics. The Regulation aims at giving a complete and comprehensive picture of tourism in Europe and allows the comparability of results with other EU member states. Data is collected via a quarterly Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) survey.

4. In view of the COVID-19 situation, prohibition of non-essential travel between Malta and Gozo came into effect on 3 April 2020 and was lifted on 4 May 2020 (L.N. 118 of 2020: Public Health Act (Cap. 465); Mandatory Non-essential Travel between Malta and Gozo Order, 2020. (https://legislation.mt/eli/ln/2020/118/eng))

5. Inbound tourism trips are collected from an ongoing frontier national survey known as Tourstat. Tourist air departures are collected through a continuous survey carried out at the departure lounge of the Malta International Airport. A two-stage sampling design is used to collect air passengers. In the first stage, alternate days and nights are selected. In the second stage, within each shift, a sample of passengers is selected systematically. Every crossing air passenger is counted and respondents are selected using a pre-defined interval of 1:20, with the exception of July 2020 and the period October to December 2020, where the pre-defined interval was 1:10. Tourist sea departures data is supplemented by administrative data provided by ferry operators. Tourstat measures the number of tourist trips carried out during a reference period. ‘Tourist trips’ differs from the ‘number of tourists’ such that the same person can undertake more than one trip during a reference period.

6. In view of the COVID-19 situation, the Tourstat survey was suspended between 12 March and 30 June 2020. Statistical methods were applied to cover the period from 13 March to 20 March 2020, when scheduled passenger flights were still in operation.

7. Malta International Airport reopened on 1 July 2020. The first group of destinations that reopened for travel comprised: Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Spain, Poland, Cyprus, Switzerland, Iceland, Slovakia, Norway, Denmark, Hungary, Finland, Ireland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Greece and Croatia. Restrictions on all other flight destinations were lifted on 15 July 2020.

8. Owing to the UK’s exit from the European Union (with effect from 01 February 2020), UK data is statistically classified as Non-EU from February 2020.

9. Absolute and percentage changes between one survey estimate and another based on less than 1,500 tourists should be treated with caution and are represented in this news release by means of the dash symbol (-).

10. The monthly passenger departures data published by the Malta International Airport cannot be equated to the number of inbound tourists because the former is inclusive of departing Maltese and transit passengers.

11. Arrivals and nights spent in time-share accommodation are being categorised in ‘Non-rented Accommodation’ instead of ‘Collective Accommodation’ as per Eurostat recommendation. In this regard, there may be minor differences in these statistics and statistics published in tourism supply due to the fact that hotels report time-share accommodation under ‘Collective Accommodation’.

12. Prior to comparing and interpreting differences between demand-side (based on Tourstat) and supply-side (based on Accomstat) tourism statistics, users are strongly advised to consult concept 15.4 of the NSO’s metadata file.

13. Definitions:

● Usual environment: The geographical area, though not necessarily a contiguous one, within which an individual conducts his regular life routines and shall be determined on the basis of the following criteria: the crossing of administrative borders or the distance from the place of usual residence, the duration of visit, the frequency of visit, the purpose of visit.

● Resident: A person is considered to be a resident of Malta/Gozo if:

a. S/he has lived for most of the past 12 months in Malta/Gozo;

b. S/he has lived in Malta/Gozo for less than 12 months but intends to return within a year to settle here.

● Traveller: A person who moves between different geographic locations, for any purpose and any duration.

● Visitor: The three fundamental criteria used to distinguish visitors from travellers are:

a. The trip should be to a place other than that of the usual environment, which would exclude short-distance local transport and commuting, i.e. more or less regular trips between the place of work/study and the place of residence;

b. The stay in the place visited should not last more than twelve consecutive months, beyond which the visitor would become a resident of that place (from the statistical standpoint);

c. The main purpose of the visit should be other than the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited, which would exclude migratory movements for work purposes.

● Tourist: A visitor who stays at least one night in a rented and non-rented accommodation in the place/country visited.

● Inbound tourism: Comprises the activities of non-resident visitors travelling to Malta (i.e. outside their usual environment) and staying for not more than 12 consecutive months for personal, business or other purposes.

● Total nights spent: Nights which a guest actually spends or is registered to spend in a rented accommodation establishment or in a non-rented accommodation.

● Average length of stay: The number of nights spent divided by the number of trips during a specified reference period.

● Rented accommodation: Consists of the following two sub-categories:

a. Collective accommodation: comprises hotels, guesthouses, hostels, tourist villages, holiday complexes, Bed & Breakfast and campsites.

b. Other rented accommodation: comprises holiday furnished premises (farmhouses, flats and villas), host families, marinas, paid-convents, rented yachts and student dormitories.

● Non-rented accommodation: Comprises own private residence (owned dwellings, owned caravans and yachts), staying with friends or relatives (even if charged – includes also friends’ private apartments) and other private accommodation (oil rig, free-convents or timeshare, etc.).

● Total expenditure: Refers to the amount that is going to be paid for the acquisition of consumption goods and services, as well as valuables during tourism trips. It includes expenditures by visitors themselves, as well as expenses that are paid for or reimbursed by others. The total expenditure is broken down by the following expenditure items:

a. Package expenditure: refers to the whole amount of money spent on transport, accommodation and other services such as rental of a car, activities or outings during the trip.

b. Non-package expenditure: is the amount of money spent on transport and accommodation reported separately.

c. Other expenditure: is the amount spent on shopping, souvenirs, tickets for concerts or sports events, entrance to museums or zoos and day excursions during a tourism trip. It also includes durables and valuable goods, that is, the amount spent on cars, computers, paintings, jewellery and works of art.

14. The nomenclature of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) provides a single, uniform breakdown of the economic territory of the European Union. The NUTS is the territorial classification for the compilation of regional statistics. The economic territory of a country can be divided into regional territories and the extra-regio territory. For the purpose of regional analysis, MALTA is divided as follows:

	NUTS 0	NUTS 1	NUTS 2	NUTS 3
MALTA	MT	MT0	MT00	MT000
Malta				MT001
Gozo and Comino				MT002
Extra-regional		MTZ	MTZZ	MTZZZ

The regional territory includes the region that is part of the geographic territory of a country and any free zones, including bonded warehouses and factories under customs control in the region. The extra-regio territory is made up of parts of the economic territory of a country that cannot be attached directly to a single region.

15. Due to the COVID-19 situation the following tourism-related chronology of events happened during 2020 in Malta:

28th February	People flying in from Italy, China (including Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Iran, South Korea) from 26th February onwards needed to stay in quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.
8th March	Flights from/to Milan were suspended.
10th March	Flights from/to Italy were suspended.
10th March	The last Cruise call.
11th March	Flights from/to France, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, were suspended.
11th March	People flying in from France, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, needed to stay in quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.
13th March	All people flying in from all destinations needed to stay in quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.
18th March	The last Virtu' Ferries service for passengers between Malta and Sicily.
21st March	All flights from/to all destinations were suspended.
3rd April	Prohibition of non-essential travel between Malta and Gozo.
4th May	Restrictions of non-essential travel between Malta and Gozo were lifted.
1st July	Re-opening of Malta International Airport.The first group of destinations that reopened for travel comprised: Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Spain, Poland, Cyprus, Switzerland, Iceland, Slovakia, Norway, Denmark, Hungary, Finland, Ireland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Greece and Croatia.
15th July	Restrictions on all other flight destinations were lifted.
21st August	First cruise liner call since March 2020.

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17. References to this news release are to be cited appropriately.

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