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Outbound travel from Malta has become increasingly embedded in everyday life.
Over the past decade, outbound tourism from Malta has grown significantly, rising from approximately 428 thousand individuals in 2015 to more than 929 thousand in 2025. A key driver of this transformation has been improved air connectivity. Air travel accounts for over 90% of outbound trips, establishing itself as the backbone of Malta’s outbound mobility. The expansion of low-cost airlines, in particular, has played a pivotal role. By lowering travel costs and increasing route availability, these operators have made international travel more accessible, enabling Maltese residents to travel more frequently and with greater flexibility.
This increased accessibility clearly translated in higher trips abroad per resident, which has increased from 0.95 trips per person in 2015 to 1.47 in 2025; an increase of around 55%.
At the same time, travel patterns are evolving. While people are travelling more often, they are spending slightly less time away per trip. The average length of stay has declined from 8 nights in 2015 to 7.4 nights in 2025. This suggests a shift towards shorter, more frequent trips.
In terms of lodgings choices, traditional collective accommodation such as hotels still accounts for the largest share of stays. However, alternative options are becoming more prominent. In particular, privately rented accommodation (including short-term rentals) has experienced the fastest growth, alongside non-rented accommodation such as staying with family or in own property. This points to a more flexible and diversified approach to travel, where cost, convenience, and personal preference play an increasingly important role.
Maltese residents are opting for different destinations. Italy remains the top travel destination and has strengthened its position over time, with its share increasing from 32% in 2015 to 36% in 2025. However, the overall destination mix is becoming more diverse. Several destinations, including Spain, Greece and Poland, are gaining traction, indicating a widening travel footprint beyond traditional markets. At the same time, non-EU travel has more than doubled its share over the past decade, rising from 11% to 26%.
Spending patterns further highlight these shifts. In 2025, Maltese residents travelling abroad spent approximately €137.9 per night, while tourists visiting Malta spent around €153.5 per night. This suggests that inbound tourists spend more intensively during their stay, while Maltese residents tend to spread their spending across slightly longer trips.
Taken together, these trends point to a broader transformation in outbound tourism. Travel from Malta is becoming more frequent, more flexible, and more diverse, both in terms of where people go and how they choose to travel. Going forward, continued investment in air connectivity, changing consumer preferences, and the growing role of flexible accommodation options will continue to shape how outbound travel unfolds.
