Tourists Outnumber Residents in Parts of Malta

In August 2025, tourists outnumbered residents in St Julian’s. NSO estimated 143 tourists per 100 residents. Valletta’s ratio was 98.5.

What the local figures measure

NSO published the calculations on 15 October 2026, using nights and an adjustment for residents travelling abroad.

This approach helps assess tourism relative to the permanent population. Comparing destinations requires checking both the units and the period: indicators with similar names are not automatically interchangeable. For example, our article on tourism intensity in the South Aegean examines annual overnight stays per resident.

Trips are growing faster than spending

A separate NSO release for August 2026 shows that inbound tourism reached 3.16 million trips in January–August, up 17.9% year on year. Total expenditure increased by 15.6% to €2.96 billion. Average spending per trip fell from €956 to €937.

The survey counts trips, so the same person can appear more than once.

Malta is pursuing higher-value tourism

On 17 February 2026, the Malta Tourism Authority announced a strategic review focused on year-round demand, quality and sustainability. This is a stated policy direction. Rising visitor numbers alone do not establish how far that objective has been achieved.

For a hotel business, earning revenue beyond a short peak is a central consideration. Assessing a project requires monthly occupancy, room rates and operating costs. A high tourist-to-resident ratio can prompt questions about a destination’s capacity, but it does not establish investment returns.

Questions and answers (FAQ)

What does 143 mean? An average daily estimate of tourists per 100 residents, not total August arrivals.

What were the annual figures? In 2025, 82.9 for St Julian’s and 80.5 for Valletta, in tourists per 100 residents.

Does lower spending per trip mean hotel rates fell? No. Expenditure covers the whole trip, including shopping and transport. It is not a measure of room rates.

Does a large visitor flow guarantee hotel profit? No. Revenue depends on prices and sales volumes, while profit also depends on costs. August’s performance must be assessed alongside cash flow over the whole year.