Maltese outbound tourism spending hits €303m in Q3 as travel to non-EU destinations surges

Maltese residents spent an estimated €303 million on outbound tourism in the third quarter of 2026, according to data published by the National Statistics Office.

The figure translates to an average of €1,065 per person and €143 per night across all trips taken between July and September.

Total outbound tourist trips during the quarter reached 200,558 for holiday purposes, with another 53,021 trips made to visit friends and relatives.

The largest cohort of outbound travellers were aged between 25 and 44, accounting for 44.4 per cent of all trips. Those aged 45 to 64 made up 31.2 per cent.

Italy remained the most popular destination, capturing 38.9 per cent of all outbound tourist trips.

A notable shift in travel patterns emerged in the data: trips to non-EU countries rose by 11.5 per cent compared to the same quarter in 2025, while travel to EU destinations increased by a more modest 3.1 per cent.

Total nights spent abroad by Maltese residents in Q3 reached 2.1 million, with an average stay of 7.5 nights. More than half of those nights, 53.8 per cent, were spent in rented accommodation.

Looking at the first nine months of 2026, outbound tourist trips totalled 704,426, an increase of 6.6 per cent over the same period in 2025. Total nights spent rose by the same margin to 5.2 million nights.

Cumulative spending by Maltese residents on outbound travel from January to September reached €691.4 million, up 1.4 per cent compared to the first nine months of 2025.

The data signals sustained demand for international travel among Maltese consumers, with spending power holding up despite broader economic pressures. The sharp increase in non-EU travel suggests a growing appetite for longer-haul destinations, which typically command higher per-trip expenditure.

For Malta’s travel sector, the figures point to a resilient outbound market that continues to expand. Airlines, tour operators, and travel agents serving the Maltese market are likely to see further opportunities as residents allocate more of their disposable income to overseas trips.