Over 284,000 Maltese Residents Travelled Abroad Between July And September 2026

The number of trips taken abroad by Maltese residents increased during the third quarter of 2026, with outbound tourist travel reaching 284,486 between July and September, up by 5.1% compared to the same period last year.

During the quarter, residents spent a total of 2,121,162 nights abroad, representing a 1.3% increase. Holidays remained the main reason for travel, accounting for 200,558 trips, followed by 53,021 trips to visit friends and relatives.

The majority of outbound tourists were aged between 25 and 44 years, making up 44.4% of travellers, while those aged between 45 and 64 accounted for 31.2%.

Travel to both EU and non-EU destinations increased during the period, rising by 3.1% and 11.5% respectively compared to the third quarter of 2025. Italy continued to be the most popular destination among Maltese residents, accounting for 38.9% of all outbound tourist trips.

More than half of all nights spent abroad during the quarter, 53.8%, were spent in rented accommodation establishments. The average length of stay stood at 7.5 nights.

Tourist expenditure between July and September was estimated at €303 million, equivalent to an average spend of €1,065 per person and €143 per night.

Looking at the first nine months of 2026, outbound tourist trips reached 704,426, an increase of 6.6% over the same period in 2025. Total nights spent abroad also rose by 6.6%, surpassing 5.2 million nights.

Total expenditure by Maltese residents travelling abroad between January and September stood at €691.4 million, up by 1.4% compared to 2025, while average spending per person reached €982.

#MaltaDaily