Malta Travel Industry Surge with New Visa-Free Travel Policy to 190 Countries Including UK, UAE and Brazil – Travel And Tour World

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Malta, a Mediterranean gem, has seen a significant surge in outbound tourism due to its rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning landscapes. Maltese travelers are increasingly exploring international destinations, seeking diverse experiences from cultural tours in Europe to beach holidays in Southeast Asia. The government’s strategic marketing initiatives and improved air connectivity have facilitated this growth.

Popular destinations for Maltese tourists include Italy, the UK, and France, reflecting historical ties and accessibility. The trend is further buoyed by a robust economy and higher disposable incomes, enabling more citizens to venture abroad. This outbound tourism growth reflects Malta’s evolving role in the global travel scene.

In 2023, the number of nights outbound travelers from Malta spent abroad surged compared to the previous year. Italy emerged as the top destination, with around 1.4 million overnight stays from Maltese tourists in 2023.

Between January and March 2024, outbound tourist trips reached 178,995, marking a 13.2 percent increase. Total nights spent amounted to 1,197,923, up by 10.7 percent. Italy continued to be the favored destination, holding a 34.5 percent share.

From October to December, outbound tourist trips totaled 218,288, showing a remarkable 21.1 percent rise compared to the same period in 2022. During the fourth quarter of 2023, estimated expenditure by outbound tourists saw a significant 23.6 percent increase, reaching €196.2 million, which translates to an average expenditure of €899 per person.

The majority of outbound tourists were aged between 25 and 44, representing 52.5 percent of the total. Those aged 45 to 64 followed, making up 27.5 percent of the outbound tourist population.

Visa Free Countries for Malta’s passport holders.

Albania, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire; St. Eustatius and Saba, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cape Verde Islands, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Curacao, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Eswatini, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, French Polynesia, French West Indies, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong (SAR China), Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao (SAR China), Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Morocco, Netherlands, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Niue, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Palau Islands, Palestinian Territory, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Reunion, Romania, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan (Chinese Taipei), Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, The Gambia, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Visa on Arrival

Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Comoro Islands, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Maldives, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, St. Helena, Togo.

Electronic Visa Authorization

Australia, American Samoa, Canada, Guam, Kenya, New Zealand, Northern Mariana Islands, Pakistan, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Sri Lanka, United States, US Virgin Islands.

KM Malta Airlines Ltd. has been introduced as Malta’s new flag carrier, with its inaugural flight set for March 31, 2024. As the national airline, KM Malta Airlines ensures reliable, year-round connections to Europe and beyond. The airline operates flights to 17 key passenger and cargo hubs in 15 prominent European cities, seamlessly connecting with larger airlines through codeshare and interline agreements. KM Malta Airlines features a modern fleet of eight Airbus A320NEOs, configured in a two-class setup, with a flexible Business Class cabin offering a total of 168 seats, including up to 36 Business Class spaces.

In partnership with ITA Airways, KM Malta Airlines has established a comprehensive codeshare agreement to merge their flight networks. The airline’s Summer 2024 schedule, running until October 26, includes destinations such as Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Catania, Dusseldorf, both London Gatwick and Heathrow, Lyon, Madrid, Milan, Munich, both Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly, Prague, Rome, Vienna, and Zurich.

Malta International Airport, located approximately 8 kilometers from the city center, serves as the main hub for the entire Maltese archipelago. Situated on the site of the former Royal Air Force station in Luqa, the airport is managed by Malta International Airport plc and connects various European locations through several airlines.

With expectations of strong traffic, Malta International Airport anticipates a total of 8.45 million passengers by the end of 2024, an increase of around 650,000 from the previous year. In April 2024 alone, the airport welcomed 774,562 passengers, marking a 9.3% increase from April 2023, with aircraft movements rising by 9.6%. Despite a 10.5% increase in available seats from last year, the average seat occupancy slightly decreased to 83.8%.