VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Prime Minister Robert Abela has said Malta’s tourism success should not be measured solely by the number of people passing through the country’s ports and airport, stressing that quality of life and high-quality tourism must go hand in hand.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta, Abela said the future of tourism must focus on creating value for visitors, businesses, workers and local communities.
He referred to Malta Vision 2050, which aims to promote a tourism model that benefits all stakeholders, adding that responsible destinations must look beyond visitor numbers when assessing their success.
“The government’s choice is clear,” Abela said, explaining that the aim was to continue improving people’s quality of life and increasing household incomes while allowing private businesses to invest within the framework of Malta Vision 2050.
The Prime Minister noted that tourism was evolving as travellers increasingly sought authentic experiences. He also highlighted Malta’s growing appeal as a year-round destination.
More than four million tourists visited the Maltese islands last year, spending over €3.9 billion. In the first eight months of this year alone, Malta welcomed more than 3.1 million tourists, generating almost €3 billion in expenditure. Abela also highlighted the country’s economic growth, saying Malta’s economy had expanded from €14.5 billion in 2019 to €25 billion today.
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