Last weekend, the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) took a bold step forward in strengthening Malta’s growing Military Tourism segment – a niche that highlights the island’s pivotal role in world history while offering visitors a meaningful and educational travel experience.

The spotlight was firmly placed on Malta’s wartime legacy during a series of commemorative events held at the Imtarfa Military Cemetery, a Commonwealth War Graves site. Running from Thursday through Saturday, the programme included powerful speeches, dignitary visits, and two atmospheric night tours that invited participants to engage with the past in a deeply personal way.

Historian Liam Gauci spoke passionately about the purpose of such commemorations: ‘Remembrance is about two things. It’s about being moved – genuine emotion in the face of such bravery – but it’s also about making an effort to understand the world these people inhabited, the choices they made, and the consequences of war… Malta stood on the right side of history in a land that was contested for centuries, including in the last war itself, bringing with it great suffering.’

Launched in November 2024 during the Remembrance Weekender, the MTA’s Military Tourism strategy positions Malta as a ‘living museum’ of global military history. It brings renewed focus to the island’s historic fortifications, war museums, air-raid shelters, and military cemeteries. The initiative works in collaboration with Heritage Malta, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), and other key partners to ensure the past is not only preserved, but deeply felt by those living the present.

For visitors with a passion for history, culture, and remembrance, Malta offers more than stunning beaches – it tells the story of courage, sacrifice, and resilience through every stone and stronghold.

Have you ever visited one of Malta’s military cemeteries?