650,000 tourists made their way to Malta in 2020

Jul 27 2021

In 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the total of inbound and domestic tourists making their way to the Malta region amounted to 649,878. A total of inbound tourists amounted for 98.2% of total tourists visiting the region, whereas 388,213 tourists visited the Gozo and Comino region. The statistics revealed by the National Statistics Office show how domestic tourists accounted for 89.8% of total tourism demand within the region.

Domestic tourism consists of activities or resident visitors within the country – meaning Maltese residents visiting Gozo and Comino or vice versa. The tourist must stay for less than 12 consecutive months for personal, business or other purposes. Inbound tourism, conversely, focuses on non-resident visitor activities as they come to the country. Inbound tourists in the country decreased by 76.1% in 2020, totalling 658,567. Despite the total nights spent by in bounds tourists in the country surpassing a whopping 5.2 million, this is a 73% decrease over 2019.

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Photo Source: USNews.com

Two third increase in Maltese holidaying in Gozo during pandemic

Jul 27 2021

2020 saw a significant increase of two thirds over 2019 of Maltese holidaying in Gozo, mostly due to COVID-19 restrictions. The National Statistics Office indicated a 62% rise in holidaymakers from Malta making their way to Gozo as travel to foreign countries proved too risky.

The same could not be said however for Gozitans holidaying in Malta. There was in fact a year-on-year drop of 46% of Gozitan tourists coming for staycations in Malta. With the pandemic forcing the closure of global ports, non-essential travel between the two islands was prohibited between April 3rd and May 4th.

Foreign tourism experienced a 76.1% drop from the previous year, with Maltese preferring to limit their travel between Gozo and Comino. Maltese residents travelling to Gozo and Comino stood at 348,489 (96.7% of total domestic tourists) in 2020. Most spent between one and three nights (80.6%) with average length increasing from 2.6 to 3 nights compared to 2019.

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Photo Source: Hotels.com

Yet another heatwave incoming for Malta this weekend

Jul 27 2021

The Meteorological Office has forecasted another heatwave for the Maltese islands starting Thursday, with temperatures scorching at 37°C and 39°C, but will feel like 40 and 41 degrees Celsius. A spokesperson told Times of Malta that the heatwave is set to dominate until at least Sunday, relatively shorter than the previous 12 day June heatwave which broke records at 41.5°C.

The hottest July temperature ever recorded in Malta was back in 1988 at 42.7˚C, with Malta’s hottest temperature ever recorded being 43.8˚C in August of 1999. A heatwave is experienced when the mean monthly maximum temperature is exceeded by at least 5 degrees Celsius for more than three days. The mean maximum for July is 31.6˚C and August predicted at 31.7˚C.

The forecast comes with the customary warnings for hydration and avoidance of the sun at its worst hours during the day as people flock to the beach to enjoy the island’s beaches.

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Photo Source: Luxury Yacht Charters

Malta’s first female Olympic weightlifter Yazmin Zammit Stevens lands third place

Jul 27 2021

Malta’s athletes have continued to make their mark on the international sport scene as Yazmin Zammit Stevens became the first-ever Maltese female weightlifter on an Olympic stage. Zammit Stevens finished third out of the four participant Category B of the 64kg category. She scored a whopping 84 in the snatch and 105 in the clean and jerk, with a total score of 189, following Australia’s Kiana Rose Elliot and Nicaragua’s Sema Nancy Ludrick Rivas.

Despite this being Malta’s second time round participating in the Olympic weightlifting categories, Zammit Stevens made history as the first Maltese female weightlifter to compete. She surpassed Tunisia’s Chaima Rahmouni, leading the way as other Maltese athletes and Olympians also pushing the limit further.

Andrew Chetcuti will also be competing today in the 100-metre swimming category (12pm local time). Massive good luck to all!

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