They are oversexed, underdressed and in Malta in bigger numbers than ever before. Young, fun-loving Italians in designer bikinis or skimpy speedos seem to dominate popular tourist spots at the moment.
National Statistics Office figures show that a record 21,467 Italians visited Malta in June, a whopping 28 per cent increase from the corresponding month in 2012. In June 2008, which was a record year for language school arrivals in Malta, just 11,624 Italians visited the island.
Figures are not yet available for July and the NSO did not provide a breakdown of the ages of Italians visiting this year.
However, the number of tourists aged up to 24 years from all markets in the first six months was up 7.2 per cent, and feedback from the industry suggests the island is now more popular than ever with youngsters from its northern neighbour.
So why are they heading south to Malta?
“Beautiful girls, beautiful weather and beautiful sea,” said Paolo De Carlo, 22.
Soaking up the rays at St George’s Bay with two friends from Turin, Mr De Carlo said their 10-day package holiday at La Valette Resort in Paceville was very cheap.
Indeed, NSO figures for January-June show that per capita spending on holiday packages by Italian visitors was just €393, which was the lowest out of Malta’s 14 main tourist markets.
Further down the beach, eight 18-year-old women from Abruzzo were enjoying a one-week holiday at a house belonging to one of their parents.
They had visited Mdina and Blue Lagoon but had primarily come because they heard Malta was a party place.
“It’s how we expected it to be really. We have met a lot of Italians – it seems like we are in Italy,” said Anna Giulia Di Dario.
Elsewhere on the beach, three Neapolitan friends said they had paid just €400 each for a one-week package at La Valette Resort, including flights.
Echoing their compatriots from Turin, they said they had come to Malta for the first time for girls, cheap drinks and parties.
“Swedish girls, German girls, Sicilian girls... all very nice,” laughed Antonio Iannone, 23.
That said, they were also intent on exploring the islands and had visited Golden Bay, Comino and Gozo.
All the Italians who spoke to Times of Malta were here for holidays rather than to study English.
The increasing number of visitors is likely to be linked to an increase in the number of low-cost flights between Malta and different regions in Italy.
Ryanair now flies between Malta and seven Italian destinations, having added seven flights per week from Milan Bergamo to its schedule this summer. Return flights this month are still available for well under €100
Easyjet flies to Rome and Milan Malpensa, while Air Malta also offers competitive fares on its Catania and Milan routes.
The Malta Tourism Authority said it had increased its online advertising and social media activity in Italy, promoting the culture, history, beaches, gastronomy and value for money the island offered.
“The association with Malta as a ‘mini-Ibiza’ is not a reputation we would agree with. We offer a very different product,” an MTA spokesman said.
“We have not promoted Malta in this way at all. The only nightlife we promote is the Isle of MTV, the summer concerts and events, the waterfronts of Valletta and Vittoriosa and the casinos.”
Mr Iannone, the cheeky tourist from Napoli, had the last word on whether Malta was indeed a “mini-Ibiza.”
“You go to Ibiza if you want famous DJs and big clubs. You go to Malta if you want girls,” he said, his eyes wandering.