A total of 24,451 Maltese went abroad last March, six per cent more than in the same month last year.

The National Statistics Office said that total nights spent abroad during the first quarter were estimated at 410,834.

The number of outbound tourist trips towards EU countries in March was calculated at 21,481. Another 2,970 trips headed towards non-EU destinations. EU trips declined marginally, but non-EU trips more than doubled.

Italy and the UK remained the most popular tourism destinations and shared 61 per cent of the total tourism market.

In the first quarter, an estimated 87 per cent of Maltese travelling abroad chose to visit EU destinations - trips to Italy advanced by 22 per cent, while those to the UK declined by four per cent.

EU outbound trips remained almost at par with last year's level, reaching 54,851, whereas the number of trips to non-EU destinations increased by 19 per cent to 8,397.

Just over half the total outbound trips were for holiday purposes, and 26 per cent for business and professional reasons.

Non-package travel was significantly higher than package travel, with an estimated 80 per cent of total travel.

Travelling Mlatese during the first quarter spent €57.7 million, equivalent to €141 per person per night. Package expenditure per night stood at €95.2, while non-package trips cost an average €57 a night.

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