Eurostat: Malta has the least seasonal tourism in the EU

Malta is the most year-round tourist destination in the European Union – according to the latest Eurostat data. In 2025, only 21.9 percent of all tourist accommodations in Malta occurred in the two most popular holiday months, i.e. July and August. This is the lowest result among EU Member States.

For comparison, the average for the entire European Union was 31.1%, and in the most seasonal destinations it was much higher. In Croatia, which remains one of the most dependent tourist markets on the summer peak, this rate reached 54.5%. Malta is followed by Germany in the list of least seasonal countries with 24%. and Finland – 24.1 percent.

Eurostat data also shows that Malta achieves a higher share of overnight stays than the EU average for eight months of the year: January to May and October to December. This means that the archipelago attracts tourists not only in the traditional summer season, but also in the months which in many Mediterranean countries are a period of significantly weaker demand.

Not only beaches and summer

Eurostat indicates that the seasonality of European tourism depends primarily on climate, geographical location and the school holiday calendar. However, the example of Malta shows that the impact of seasonality can be limited by a wider offer and development of tourist products that are not exclusively related to sunbathing.

– Just a few years ago, Malta was perceived primarily as a summer holiday destination. Today, its offer is much more diverse. In addition to beaches, culture and history dating back over 8,000 years play an increasingly important role. years, city breaks, diving, outdoor activities, military heritage, gastronomy and business travel. There is no shortage of reasons to visit Malta all year round. Additionally, the Mediterranean climate and several dozen direct flights a week from the largest Polish airports make Malta an attractive destination regardless of the season – emphasizes John Mary Attard, regional director of the Malta Tourist Organization for Poland, Hungary and the Baltic countries.

For Malta, limiting seasonality is one of the important directions of tourism development. The goal is not just to increase the number of guests in July and August, but to distribute traffic more evenly throughout the year. This model allows for better use of accommodation and infrastructure, reduces pressure on the environment in the summer months and ensures greater stability for companies operating in the industry.

Poles like to fly outside the season

The year-round nature of Malta is also clearly visible on the Polish market. According to the Malta Tourism Organization, most Poles visit the archipelago in the first and fourth quarter of the year, i.e. in the months traditionally considered off-season.

Data covering the period from January to May 2026 show that Malta has already been visited by over 227,000 people. tourists from Poland. This is more than half the number recorded in the entire record year of 2025, when the country received 386,000. Polish tourists.

This is an important signal for the industry, because Malta does not compete on the Polish market only as a summer holiday destination. Shorter trips, city breaks, active stays, diving, events, culinary offers and trips outside the high season, when temperatures are milder and tourist traffic are more dispersed, are becoming more and more important.

Malta among growth leaders

Eurostat data is consistent with the observations of the European Travel Commission. According to the latest ETC report, Malta is one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in Europe. In the first five months of 2026, the number of foreign arrivals increased by 16%. compared to the same period of the previous year.

The year-round tourism model is also part of the broader condition of the Maltese economy. According to forecasts by the International Monetary Fund, Malta is expected to remain the fastest growing economy in Europe until 2031. The fund predicts that in the years 2027–2031 the country’s GDP will grow by an average of 3.96%. per year, which is much faster than the average for the euro area and the entire European Union.

From the point of view of the tourist market, Malta is an example of a destination that, thanks to short distances, good air accessibility, climate and diversified offer, is gradually going beyond the classic summer season pattern. For tour operators, agents and carriers, this means the ability to sell the product throughout most of the year, not only during the holiday peak.