Increase in outbound travel

The number of Maltese passengers departing by air and sea in the first 10 months of this year amounted to 234,824, an increase of 8.3 per cent over the same period last year, the National Statistics Office said.

Of these, 85.5 per cent went to EU destinations, Italy and the UK being the most popular.

Male outbound passengers exceeded females, the former accounting for 58.4 per cent of the total.

The largest proportion of outbound passengers - 45.6 per cent - comprised passengers aged 25 to 44, followed by those in the 45-64 age bracket who accounted for 39.3 per cent of Maltese travellers.

In October, Maltese residents departing by air and sea are estimated at 17,330. Of these, 14,221 travelled to EU countries, again Italy and the UK being the main destinations.

Outbound Maltese tourists for October are estimated at 17,330, implying a drop of 10.1 per cent over the same month last year. Of these, 92.8 per cent travelled by air.