Malta had EU’s least seasonal tourism pattern in 2025

Malta had the least seasonal tourism pattern in the European Union in 2025, with Eurostat figures showing that only 21.9% of annual tourist overnight stays were recorded during the peak months of July and August, the Tourism Ministry said.

The figure is well below the EU average of 31.1%, placing Malta ahead of Germany and Finland, which recorded 24% and 24.1% of annual tourist nights during their two busiest months respectively.

The data measures how annual overnight stays are distributed across the calendar year, rather than overall tourist arrivals.

Eurostat data also shows that Malta exceeded the EU average during eight months of the year, with a higher share of annual tourist nights recorded between January and May, and again between October and December.

The data suggests that Malta’s tourism sector is less dependent on the summer peak than other Mediterranean destinations, where tourist nights remain heavily concentrated in July and August. For example, Croatia recorded 54.5% of its annual tourist nights during the two months, followed by Bulgaria at 43.4% and Greece at 41.6%.

Malta also recorded a lower share of annual tourist nights than the EU average between June and September, further indicating that tourism demand is less concentrated in the summer months than in many other European countries.

Tourism Minister Jo Etienne Abela welcomed the figures, saying they demonstrate the Malta Tourism Authority’s work to position Malta as a year-round destination.

“Together with all our partners in the sector, the substantial investment made in recent years has helped transform Malta into a unique destination, boasting robust infrastructure and a service framework capable of welcoming visitors throughout the entire year,” Abela remarked.

MTA Chairman Charles Mangion said the figures confirm that Malta has reduced its reliance on seasonal tourism, saying the result is the outcome of years of planning and investment.

“Today, Malta is the tourist destination with the lowest seasonality in the European Union, demonstrating how successfully we have evolved beyond the traditional summer ‘sun and sea’ tourism model,” MTA CEO Carlo Micallef said, calling it a remarkable achievement for the islands.