Malta’s tourism sector continued to register strong results in March, with inbound tourists increasing by 11.3% when compared with the same month last year.

According to figures published by the National Statistics Office, inbound tourists reached 321,652 in March 2026, up from 289,030 in March 2025. Total inbound visitors, including overnight cruise passengers, stood at 325,666, an increase of 10.9%. 

The figures confirm that Malta’s tourism industry remains on a positive trajectory, building on the momentum registered in recent years and continuing to support economic activity across different sectors.

Tourist spending reaches €234 million in March

Tourist expenditure also increased during the month under review.

Total expenditure by inbound tourists reached €234.1 millionin March, representing an increase of 6.9% over the same month last year. This reflects continued demand for Malta as a destination, with spending spread across accommodation, travel and other services linked to the tourism experience. 

The average length of stay stood at 5.3 nights, compared with 5.6 nights in March 2025, while total nights spent by inbound tourists reached 1.7 million, up by 5.9%.

Holiday travel remains main driver

The majority of visitors came to Malta for holiday purposes, with 295,489 tourists travelling for this reason in March. This marks an increase of 11.2% compared with the same month in 2025.

Business and professional travel also registered a notable increase, rising by 41.9% to reach 17,195 visitors.

Non-package travel continued to grow strongly, with 231,101tourists opting for non-package arrangements, an increase of 14%. Package travel also rose, reaching 90,551 tourists.

Strong growth from non-EU markets

The figures also show particularly strong growth from non-EU markets.

Tourists from non-EU countries increased by 22.1%, reaching 107,340 in March. The United Kingdom remained a key market, with 69,095 tourists, an increase of 21.3% over March 2025.

Among EU markets, Poland continued to perform strongly, with arrivals rising by 39.9% to 46,240. Italy also registered growth, with 43,010 tourists, an increase of 11.6%.

Gozo and Comino also benefit

Gozo and Comino continued to benefit from Malta’s tourism performance.

In March, 153,116 tourists visited Gozo and Comino, an increase of 4.9% over the same month last year. Most were same-day visitors, while overnight visitors also contributed to tourism activity on the sister islands. 

This confirms the continued importance of spreading tourism activity beyond Malta’s main tourism zones, ensuring that more communities benefit from the sector.

First quarter shows strong momentum

The strong March figures form part of a wider positive trend for the first quarter of the year.

Between January and March 2026, Malta welcomed 806,563 inbound tourists, an increase of 16.3% over the same period in 2025. Total nights spent rose by 11.9% to reach 4.45 million, while tourist expenditure increased by 15%, reaching €584.7 million. 

These results point to a solid start to the year for tourism, one of Malta’s key economic sectors.

A sector that continues to deliver

The latest figures underline the continued resilience and attractiveness of Malta’s tourism product.

With growth in arrivals, expenditure and total nights spent, tourism is once again proving to be an important contributor to economic activity, employment and wider national prosperity.

The challenge remains to continue strengthening quality, improving the visitor experience and ensuring that tourism growth remains sustainable and beneficial to Malta and Gozo alike.