Dramatic improve from the North American market.
NEW YORK, NY – Tourism Minister for Malta, Clayton Bartolo, introduced that 2023 was a report 12 months for the variety of inbound vacationers, exceeding the three million mark (3,002,823), even surpassing 2019 figures by 8.3%. Bartolo famous that 2023 proved to be the perfect 12 months of all time for Malta’s tourism trade, together with the variety of inbound vacationers, visitor nights spent in Malta, and vacationer expenditure. The Minister additional said that Malta was the perfect performing Mediterranean vacation spot in 2023, and one of many first locations in Europe to completely recuperate after the pandemic.
The rise from the U.S. & Canadian markets additionally confirmed extraordinary development. In line with Michelle Buttigieg, the Malta Tourism Authority North American Consultant, the 2023 whole variety of guests from the U.S. was 55,096, a rise of 35.6% over 2022 and a 9% improve over 2019 pre-COVID numbers. Canada additionally confirmed a 36.3% development (20,820) over 2022 and a rise of seven.5% when in comparison with 2019 (pre-COVID figures). Buttigieg additionally identified that the cruise trade performed a key position on this improve from the U.S. since Valletta, is a significant port of name for Mediterranean cruise strains. Within the final quarter of 2023 alone, there have been 82 cruise liner calls in comparison with the 21 cruise strains of the corresponding quarter of the earlier 12 months. The entire variety of American passengers for a similar interval (This autumn/2023) reached 32,920, 40% of the non-EU cruise passengers.
Vilhena Gate, Mdina (Picture: Malta Tourism Authority)
Buttigieg additional famous, “key elements contributing to the rise in tourism from the U.S. & Canada is Malta’s variety, there’s something for each curiosity. Equally necessary for the North American market is Malta’s enlargement as a luxurious vacation spot with new 5-star resort openings, curated experiences, and a dedication to incorporating sustainable practices.” She added that this development additionally displays MTA North America’s concerted efforts by means of training, together with the sturdy help from the Malta DMCs in working carefully with tour operators by means of USTOA (United States Tour Operators Affiliation), journey advisors by means of consortia corresponding to Virtuoso, in addition to a strong Journey Agent Academy Coaching Program. These initiatives, mixed with a effectively organized, built-in advertising and marketing marketing campaign, a targeted PR technique, pushing luxurious and curated experiences, area of interest markets, in addition to a focused Promoting marketing campaign for commerce and shoppers have confirmed to be very efficient.
MTA CEO Carlo Micallef defined “MTA’s advertising and marketing technique – one that’s information pushed, targeted on increased revenue experiential traveler demographics, agile to regulate to get finest outcomes and buyer centric to have interaction with the potential vacationers to our islands.” Whereas emphasizing the importance of selling initiatives, Mr. Micallef additionally highlighted the Authority’s pivotal position in enhancing Malta’s enchantment to vacationers and refining its tourism choices. He underscored the continuing dedication to additional enchancment within the months and years forward, aiming to maintain the revitalization of Malta’s tourism trade.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Community the place she is the Editor-in Chief. She can be answerable for the every day operation and the monetary coverage. She holds a Bachelor’s diploma in Tourism Enterprise Administration from the Technical College of Athens and a Grasp in Enterprise Administration (MBA) from the College of Wales.
She has a few years of each tutorial and industrial expertise throughout the journey trade. She has written/edited quite a few articles in varied tourism magazines.
