tourism in Malta

File:Ramla Bay.jpg on Gozo.]]

Malta has a long and rich history, and this is reflected in the island's cultural attractions.{{Cite web |last=Malta |first=Inside |date=2022-12-01 |title=Best places to visit in Malta |url=https://www.insidemalta.blog/politics/best-places-to-visit-in-malta-2022/ |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=InsideMalta |language=en-US}} The Phoenicians, the Carthaginians, the Romans, and the Byzantines have all occupied Malta at some point in history, leaving a mix of many different architectural styles and artifacts to explore. The sovereignty of the Knights Hospitaller over Malta from 1530 to 1798 resulted in a legacy of elaborate artistry and architecture throughout Malta. The country's modern museums and art galleries feature relics from Malta's history for tourists and Maltese residents alike to enjoy.{{cite web | url =http://www.visitmalta.com/malta-culture-and-heritage | title =Holiday ideas: culture and heritage | year =2011 | publisher =Visit Malta | access-date =January 25, 2011 | archive-date =June 22, 2012 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120622121543/http://www.visitmalta.com/malta-culture-and-heritage | url-status =dead }}

There are also a number of aquatic activities to enjoy on Malta as well as Gozo and Comino. Northern Malta is home to the country's beach resorts and holiday areas, with the beaches most popular with holiday-makers being Mellieha Bay, Ghajn Tuffieha, and Golden Bay. These beaches are large enough to be able to house cafes, restaurants, and kiosks, but small enough to rarely be crowded. Malta's northwest is home to the island's quietest beaches, and it is on these that the main island's neighbouring two are nearest. Gozo and Comino are also popular beach spots for holiday-makers, although these are much more likely to be quieter, rockier and more suitable for snorkelling.{{cite web | url =http://www.visitmalta.com/beaches-bays | title =Island attractions: beaches and bays | year =2011 | publisher =Visit Malta | access-date =January 25, 2011 | archive-date =June 14, 2012 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120614224043/http://www.visitmalta.com/beaches-bays | url-status =dead }} The Mediterranean Sea surrounding Malta is popular for diving - while shallow dips may be attractive to beginning divers, more experienced divers may be able to dive deeper to find historical artifacts from World War II or earlier.{{cite web | url =http://www.visitmalta.com/diving-malta | title =Holiday ideas: diving | year =2011 | publisher =Visit Malta | access-date =January 25, 2011 | archive-date =June 15, 2012 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120615085353/http://www.visitmalta.com/diving-malta | url-status =dead }}

File:Bluelagoon.jpg's Blue Lagoon]]

Major event tourism, especially events centred on Catholicism, is an important segment of the Maltese tourism sector. During Holy Week, processions and religious services dominate the country and food stalls are set up in the village squares of Malta.{{cite web | url =http://www.airmalta.de/easter-in-malta | title =Easter in Malta | work =2011 | publisher =Air Malta | access-date =January 25, 2011 | url-status =dead | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110718194045/http://www.airmalta.de/easter-in-malta | archive-date =July 18, 2011 }} Another popular major event is Carnival, a five centuries-old traditional celebration lasting for the five days preceding Ash Wednesday. Celebrations for Carnival involve float-based pageants, street parties and street food stalls.{{cite web| url = http://www.airmalta.de/carnival?l=1| title = Carnival| year = 2011| publisher = Air Malta| access-date = January 25, 2011| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110718195503/http://www.airmalta.de/carnival?l=1| archive-date = July 18, 2011}} They are mostly Roman Catholic.

One of the biggest sporting events held on the island is the Malta Marathon. Held every year in late February or early March, the race attracts a number of international competitors and has been sponsored by Land Rover since 2009, BMW from 2003 to 2008, GoMobile in 2002 and Flora Malta in 2001 and prior. In 2009, the full marathon winner, a Belgian, recorded a time of 2:25:59.{{cite news | url =http://www.maltamarathon.com/2009.htm | title =Cuelemans braves rocky conditions to claim victory | author =Grech, Paul | year =2009 | newspaper =The Times of Malta | access-date =January 25, 2011 | url-status =dead | archive-url =https://archive.today/20110714024436/http://www.maltamarathon.com/2009.htm | archive-date =July 14, 2011 }} In 2010, approximately 1,400 entrants participated.{{cite news | url =http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110115/sport/record-entries-expected | title = Record entries expected| author =Walsh, John | date =January 15, 2011 | newspaper =The Times of Malta | access-date = January 25, 2011}}

File:Portomaso.JPG

Since 2010, the Malta Tourism Authority has been marketing Malta as a medical tourism destination. Focus areas for medical tourism include "cosmetic surgery, orthopedics, ophthalmic, neurological, urological, oncology, diagnostic, bariatric, and cardiac services."{{cite web | url = http://www.imtj.com/news/?EntryId82=208179| title =Malta targets medical tourism | date = June 17, 2010| publisher =International Medical Travel Journal | access-date = January 25, 2011}} The focus target market for medical tourists in Malta is the United Kingdom, followed by North Africa, the Middle East, Russia and North America. Part of the reason for targeting the United Kingdom for medical tourists is that many members of Malta's medical profession were trained in the United Kingdom, increasing the confidence of British patients in those taking care of them. In addition, unlike some medical tourism destinations, Malta has a stable political climate. The Maltese government supports the development of medical tourism on the island but believes that private medical providers should be performing medical procedures, not government-run facilities.

Educational tourism highly contributes to the number of yearly inbound tourists in Malta.  In recent years Malta has successfully become a dominant country in the ESL (English as a Second Language) industry. This can be attributed to the fact that English is an official language in Malta, as well as the congenial climate, cultural and historical heritage, the safe environment{{Cite web|url=https://www.prosperity.com/globe/malta|title=Malta (Ranked 19th)|website=Legatum Prosperity Index 2018|language=en|access-date=2019-05-15}} and high standard of living.{{Cite web|url=https://www2.deloitte.com/mt/en/pages/careers/articles/mt-why-malta-standard-of-living.html|title=Standard of living {{!}} Living and working in Malta|website=Deloitte Malta|language=en|access-date=2019-05-15}}

This has resulted in numerous quality English language schools operating on the islands throughout the year. While most of the English language schools are on Malta, some institutions have a centre on Gozo as well.{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitmalta.com/en/info/belsgozo|title=BELS Gozo - Language Schools in Malta - Visitmalta - The official tourism website for Malta, Gozo and Comino.|website=www.visitmalta.com|access-date=2019-05-15}} In addition, there has been an increase in monitoring boards, teacher training courses, conferences and assessment procedures to ensure quality tuition is upheld.

English language schools in Malta are accredited and licensed by various international and local institutions within the ESL industry. Such associations include IALC (International Association of Language Centres), ALTO (Association of language travel organisations), FELTOM (The Federation of English Language Teaching Organisations Malta), ELT Council, Bildungsurlaub, Erasmus, and Malta Tourism Authority.

In addition to a valid passport, "documents substantiating the purpose and the conditions of the planned visit" and "sufficient means of support, both for the period of the planned visit and to return to their country of origin,"{{cite web | url =http://www.mfa.gov.mt/default.aspx?MDIS=526 | title =Entry into Malta | author =Malta Ministry of Foreign Affairs | year =2011 | access-date =January 25, 2011 | archive-date =March 4, 2016 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160304115026/http://www.mfa.gov.mt/default.aspx?MDIS=526 | url-status =dead }} travellers arriving in Malta may be required to have a visa for entry into the country.

European Union citizens have the right to travel freely into Malta without completing any special formalities.{{cite web | url =http://www.mfa.gov.mt/default.aspx?MDIS=527 | title =Travel rights for EU nationals | author =Malta Ministry of Foreign Affairs | year =2011 | access-date =January 25, 2011 | archive-date =March 4, 2016 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053617/http://www.mfa.gov.mt/default.aspx?MDIS=527 | url-status =dead }} The nationals of many countries are not required to hold visas to enter Malta, although many are in accordance with uniform European Union regulations. A full list of nationalities required to hold visas to enter Malta and the Schengen Area is published on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' web site.

While Malta cannot unilaterally drop the requirement for nations it makes agreements with to obtain visas to enter the Schengen Area through its border crossing points, it is permitted to offer visa discounts to certain nationalities. At present, Malta has 'visa facilitation agreements' with eight nations: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Macedonia, Russia, Serbia and Ukraine.{{cite web | url =http://www.mfa.gov.mt/default.aspx?MDIS=4071 | title =Visa Facilitation Agreements | author =Malta Ministry of Foreign Affairs | year =2011 | access-date =January 25, 2011 | archive-date =March 4, 2016 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091842/http://www.mfa.gov.mt/default.aspx?MDIS=4071 | url-status =dead }}

{{wide image|Valletta Grand Harbour Panorama.jpg|1000px|Grand Harbour looking eastwards, as seen from the Upper Barrakka Gardens}}

Tourism is a major component of the Maltese economy, constituting about 40 per cent of Malta's GDP in 2003/04. 1,183,012 tourists visited Malta in 2009. Although this is an 8 per cent drop from 2008, the number of tourists is expected to reach 1,300,000 by the end of 2010 (figures are not yet available).{{cite news | url =http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/tourist-arrivals-expected-to-reach-1-3-million-by-end-2010 | title =Tourist arrivals expected to reach 1.3 million by end 2010 | author =Rachel Zammit Cutajar | date =December 30, 2010 | newspaper =Malta Today | access-date =January 25, 2011 | archive-date =July 8, 2017 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20170708084449/http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/tourist-arrivals-expected-to-reach-1-3-million-by-end-2010 | url-status =dead }} For the period January to December 2009, drops were recorded in visits from most countries sending large numbers of tourists to Malta, including Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Russia, the Scandinavian countries, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States, whilst a 24.7 per cent increase was recorded in visits to and from Libya. Visits from non-European Union countries took the greatest hit, with visits from these countries decreasing by 15 per cent compared to 2008. Comparatively, visits from European Union countries decreased only 7.4 per cent. Visits from the Eurozone dropped by an even smaller proportion, recording a fall of only 5.6 per cent.{{cite web | url =http://www.mta.com.mt/loadfile.ashx?id=229c3db5-9e84-40e3-82e9-ff26ee290731 | title =Tourist Departures: December 2009 | date =January 2010 | publisher =National Statistics Office Malta | access-date =January 25, 2011 | archive-date =March 4, 2016 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090656/http://www.mta.com.mt/loadfile.ashx?id=229c3db5-9e84-40e3-82e9-ff26ee290731 | url-status =dead }}

In 2023, Malta’s tourism sector contributed €2.6 billion to the country’s gross domestic product, underscoring its importance to the national economy.{{Cite web |title=Travel and tourism's contribution to GDP Malta 2023 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1171127/travel-and-tourism-gdp-contribution-malta/ |access-date=2024-11-16 |website=Statista |language=en}} This figure translates to approximately €5,200 per capita, reflecting the sector’s significant impact on individual livelihoods. Tourism supports thousands of jobs across various industries, including hospitality, retail, and transportation, while also generating substantial government revenue. Popular attractions, such as Valletta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Blue Lagoon, continue to be major draws for international visitors. In June 2024, Malta recorded 350,910 inbound tourists, highlighting its status as a premier Mediterranean destination.{{Cite web |title=Inbound Tourism: June 2024 |url=https://nso.gov.mt/inbound-tourism-june-2024/ |website=National Statistics Office - Malta|date=6 August 2024 }} Additionally, the government has focused on promoting cultural and medical tourism, aiming to diversify the sector and attract higher-spending visitors. With a growing number of annual visitors, tourism remains a cornerstone of Malta’s economy, driving growth in related sectors and boosting overall economic resilience.

The vast majority of visitors to Malta stayed for seven nights or longer, with the average stay length being 8.5 nights. While the number of people staying seven nights or longer in Malta fell by 13.4 per cent in 2009 compared to 2008, the number of people staying four to six nights jumped 7.5 per cent, and one to three nights by 1.5 per cent. Expenditure by tourists to Malta declined 12 per cent when compared to 2008 levels, with a recorded value of EUR 916.4 million.

Most visitors arriving to Malta on short-term basis were from the following countries of nationality:{{cite web |url=https://nso.gov.mt/en/News_Releases/View_by_Unit/Unit_C3/Population_and_Tourism_Statistics/Documents/2017/News2017_020.pdf |title=Inbound Tourism: December 2016 |access-date=2017-02-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205095857/https://nso.gov.mt/en/News_Releases/View_by_Unit/Unit_C3/Population_and_Tourism_Statistics/Documents/2017/News2017_020.pdf |archive-date=2017-02-05 | publisher=National Statistics Office Malta}}{{Cite web | url=https://nso.gov.mt/en/News_Releases/View_by_Unit/Unit_C3/Tourism_Statistics/Documents/2018/News2018_016.pdf | title=Inbound Tourism: December 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223184605/https://nso.gov.mt/en/News_Releases/View_by_Unit/Unit_C3/Tourism_Statistics/Documents/2018/News2018_016.pdf | archive-date=2019-02-23 | publisher=National Statistics Office Malta}}{{Cite web | url=https://nso.gov.mt/en/News_Releases/View_by_Unit/Unit_C3/Tourism_Statistics/Documents/2019/News2019_017.pdf | title=Inbound Tourism: December 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223184637/https://nso.gov.mt/en/News_Releases/View_by_Unit/Unit_C3/Tourism_Statistics/Documents/2019/News2019_017.pdf | archive-date=2019-02-23 | publisher=National Statistics Office Malta}}

Tourism in Malta began to grow beginning in the mid-1960s. During the 1970s, Maltese tourism grew significantly, with numbers growing from 170,800 in 1970 to 705,500 in 1981. From 1981, the figures dropped to approximately 500,000 visitors per year until the late 1980s, when an upward trend began again. In the mid-1990s, figures were as high as 1.2 million tourists per year.{{cite book |title=Sports tourism: participants, policy and providers |last1=Weed |first1=Mike |last2=Bull |first2=Chris |year=2009 |publisher=Butterworth-Heinemann |location=Oxford |isbn=978-0-7506-8375-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ta7jbfz5vjgC }}

The volatility of the Maltese tourism market in the past has been largely due to trends in the preferences of tourists from the United Kingdom, who comprise Malta's largest tourism market. Although Malta's uniform use of English, its traditional ties to the United Kingdom and low-cost travel options have made it an attractive option to British tourists, changing preferences of these tourists can impact Malta's tourism income quite significantly. For example, the increasing preference of British tourists for Spanish destinations during the 1980s was reflected in a drop in Malta's tourism numbers during that period.

Malta's tourism industry faces a number of issues affecting it now and threatening to affect it in the future. One of the clearest issues facing Malta's tourism industry is overcrowding as a result of the island nation's relatively small size, in terms of both area and population. Malta is a nation of just under 450,000 people,{{cite web|title=Estimated Population by Locality 31st March, 2013|url=http://www.lc.gov.mt/mediacenter/PDFs/1_Population%2031-3-13.pdf|publisher=Malta Government Gazette 19,094|access-date=10 May 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714184236/http://www.lc.gov.mt/mediacenter/PDFs/1_Population%2031-3-13.pdf|archive-date=14 July 2014}} yet its infrastructure is required to support 2.6 million tourists every year. Malta's water works, roads, waste management systems and beaches are stretched to capacity in the summer months of July and August of every year, when tourism numbers are at their peak. This is a challenge facing Maltese tourism operators as it means that they cannot simply pursue the kinds of 'mass tourism' marketing measures taken by operators in other Mediterranean destinations with more space and resources to pursue them. In addition, Maltese tourism operators must balance increased tourism numbers with the needs of the 'native population', as when resources are stretched thin by tourists during the summer season, there are negative impacts on Maltese residents also.{{cite book |title=Aviation and Tourism: Implications for Leisure Travel |last1= Graham|first1= Anne|last2=Papatheodorou|first2=Andreas|last3=Forsyth|first3=Peter |year=2010 |publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. |location=Farnham |isbn=978-1-4094-0232-9 |page=126 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g0_6GTV2pIYC }}[https://travelinsight.net/en/malta/things-to-do-in-malta-best-attractions-and-activities/ Malta's Top Attractions: Must-See Sights and Exciting Activities for Visitors]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241118045958/https://travelinsight.net/en/malta/things-to-do-in-malta-best-attractions-and-activities}} travelinsight. 2006–2007 Session.

• List of museums in Malta

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{{Wikivoyage|Malta}}

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• [http://www.visitmalta.com Visit Malta Official Tourism Portal]
• [http://julesysbnb.com/best-beaches-and-bays/ Julesys BnB Beaches & Bays Guide] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160430231933/http://julesysbnb.com/best-beaches-and-bays/ |date=2016-04-30 }}
• [https://www.malta.co.il/ Malta Tourism Guide]

{{Tourism in Europe}}

Malta