The number of Maltese who went on holiday abroad in June dropped by 24 per cent, compared with the same month last year, the National Statistics Office said yesterday.

Figures show that 23,329 left the island on holiday compared to 30,700 to June last year.

However, the drop could be attributed to a peak in Maltese travelling to Rome in June last year for the canonisation of Dun Ġorġ Preca. Some 5,000 Maltese had attended the canonisation.

In fact, this year's figures are similar to the previous two years - 20,211 Maltese went abroad in June 2005 and another 22,211 in June 2006.

Travel by sea has also dropped - from 19.4 per cent of all passengers in June 2007 to 11.3 per cent last June.

Despite the drop in June passengers, the number of Maltese travelling abroad in the first six months of the year has gone up by 6.8 per cent, to reach just over 125,000.

Passengers aged between 25 and 44 made up the greatest number of passengers, followed by those aged between 45 and 64.