Malta's Tourism Boom: 3.6M Visitors in Nine Months, Spending Hits €3.45B

Malta's tourism sector continues its strong upward trajectory, with inbound tourist numbers surging 17% in the first nine months of 2026 compared to the same period last year.

A total of 3,599,493 tourists visited the islands between January and September, according to the National Statistics Office. Total nights spent reached 21.5 million, a 9.6% increase.

Total tourist expenditure for the period was estimated at €3,450.5 million, up 13.9% from 2025. However, spending per capita dipped slightly to €959 from €985, suggesting a shift in visitor mix or booking patterns.

September alone saw 429,463 inbound tourists, with 412,848 arriving for holiday purposes and 16,615 for business. The largest demographic was the 25–44 age group at 36.5%, followed by the 45–64 bracket at 32.1%.

British, Italian and Polish residents together accounted for 47.4% of all tourists in September. Total nights spent in the month rose 1.5% to 2.7 million, with 86.7% of guest nights in rented accommodation.

Average length of stay held at 6.2 nights. Total tourist expenditure in September reached €487.2 million, up 4.6% year-on-year, with average spend per night at €178.6.

Gozo and Comino attracted 272,910 visitors in September, including day-trippers, representing 62.2% of all tourists. Overnight stays in Gozo and Comino accounted for 7% of the total.

For the nine-month period, 179,957 tourists stayed overnight in Gozo and Comino, or 5% of all tourists. Overall, 2,067,290 people visited the sister islands, representing 57.4% of total inbound tourists.

The data underscores the resilience of Malta's tourism economy, even as per-capita spending edges lower. For local businesses, the volume growth signals sustained demand, but the declining average expenditure per visitor warrants attention from operators and policymakers alike.