 Information
about Malta
- Malta: an independent republic in the Mediterranean Sea
- Population 395,000
- Area 316 sq kms
- European Union member
- Pop Density 1200/km2
- Languages: Maltese & English. Italian widely spoken
- Maltese is the only European language of semitic origin
- Malta features an uninterrupted 7,000 year history from
5,000 BC to the present
- Maltese history is a cross-section of Mediterranean history:
- British 1800 – 1964
- French 1798 – 1800
- Knights of St John 1530 – 1798
- Aragonese/Castillian 1266 AD – 1530 AD
- Norman 1090 AD – 1266 AD
- Arab 870 AD – 1090 AD
- Roman/Byzantine 218 BC – 870 AD
- Punic 800 BC – 218 BC
- Prehistoric Temple Culture 5000 BC – 800 BC
- 90% of Malta’s tourists originate from the European
Union
- The UK, Germany, Italy and France jointly generate 67%
of Malta’s tourism inflow
- 95% of tourist arrivals are by air
- Malta is a year round destination
- Malta is accessible by air from a large number of European
and Mediterranean cities
- Tourists arrive to Malta by sea via a selection of ferry
services and other sea transport
- Valletta developing into a major cruise port
- Cross-section of European and Mediterranean culture
- Maximum travel distance 45kms
- Choice of three distinct islands
- Safe and hospitable
- Malta currently hosts 1.15 million tourists generating
11 million nights
 Tourism
in Malta
Malta’s tourism strategy focuses on attracting
visitors from the following segments in order to ensure an
even seasonal spread and maximised returns on the Island’s
competitive advantage:
- Leisure
- History and culture
- Diving and sports tourism
- Language learning
- Conference and Incentive Travel
- Gozo
Malta is an island destination which depends on a year round
flow of tourism activity rather than the more seasonal types
of tourism prevalent in most other Mediterranean destinations.
In line with its Mediterranean character, during the summer
months Malta attracts a homogenous type of tourist: one looking
for sun and sea based leisure activities. Outside of the summer
months, Malta requires to tap into a variety of segments in
order to attract tourists to sustain its tourism industry.
As a result, the destination changes from a Mediterranean
island summer resort to a hub of cultural activities. Most
of these activities can be defined or grouped under the definition
of City Tourism.
Destination Malta has therefore learned to change from an
island resort to a city destination depending on the season.
This ensures maximised efficient use of tourism plant and
employment of resources. Subsequently, Malta is acknowledged
to be one of the least seasonal of the Mediterranean destination.
Numerous challenges are faced by destination Malta in its
quest to further reap the benefits of the City Tourism
Segment. Foremost amongst these lies the fact that the
destination constantly requires to combat the stereotype
image which a Mediterranean island destination possesses
in the major European source markets. Malta is a much
more complex destination than most of its Mediterranean
island competitors
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