Fewer Maltese travellers in March

Fewer Maltese travelled abroad in March compared to the same month in 2008, which included Easter. March 2008 figures may also have been affected by Maltese returning to Malta to vote, and then going back home.

Figures issued today by the NSO show that outbound Maltese tourists in Marchtotalled 20,809 a decrease of 12.9 per cent over March 2008. The majority were in the 25-44 age bracket.

The NSO said 18,117 visited an EU destination, the most popular being the UK and Italy, while 2,692 chose destinations outside the EU.

The number of Maltese passengers departing by air and sea during the first quarter of 2009 amounted to 57,403, a decrease of 3.2 per cent over the corresponding period last year. Of these, 85.9 per cent travelled to EU destinations; the most visited countries were the UK and Italy. Male outbound passengers exceeded female ones, the former accounting for 60.7 per cent of the total.

The largest proportion of outbound passengers - 50.3 per cent - comprised passengers aged between 25 and 44 years, followed by those in the 45-64 age bracket who accounted for 38.1 per cent of total outbound tourists.