The number of Maltese travelling abroad dropped by almost a quarter in June to reach 23,329 when compared to the same month last year, according to estimates published by the NSO today.

The office said the decrease may be partly attributed to the spike in numbers in 2007 when thousands travelled to Rome for the canonisation of Dun Gorg Preca.

In the six months between January and June the number of Maltese who went abroad reached 125,316, an increase of 6.8 percent over the first six months of 2007.

Some 86 percent of Maltese who went abroad went to EU destinations.

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