Passport at the ready! Maltese travellers are on the move this year, and Italy’s still a favourite
Statistics showed more travellers choosing home-style stays over hotels.
Maltese travellers clearly aren’t slowing down in 2025! The first few months of the year have already seen thousands packing their bags and setting off to explore what Europe and beyond have to offer, with Italy continuing to top the list as the go-to destination.
Whether it’s a quick city break or a longer cultural escape, the appeal of travel remains strong. From January to March, outbound trips were slightly up compared to the same period last year, from 180,583 to 181,403 outbound tourists, with holidaymakers soaking up experiences across the EU and beyond. In fact, EU destinations have seen a small boost in popularity, while travel to countries outside the EU dipped just a little – but it’s still clear that the Maltese appetite for international adventures is alive and well.
While Italy remains the front-runner (and let’s face it – their food is hard to beat!), other destinations are also enjoying their fair share of Maltese visitors. Interestingly, more than half of all nights abroad were spent staying with family and friends or in personal accommodation, showing that many are choosing more local, lived-in experiences when travelling.
Altogether, these trips added up to over 1.3 million nights away – that’s a lot of time discovering new cities, tasting foreign cuisine, and enjoying that change of scenery. And with travellers averaging about a week per trip, it's clear people are taking their time to unwind and explore.
Have you had an overseas adventure this year?