A total of 28,804 Maltese went abroad in June - 10.6 per cent more than in the same month last year.

The number of trips to EU countries stood at 25,535 (+15 per cent), while 3,269 trips headed towards non-EU destinations (-13 per cent).

Trips to Italy and the UK remained in the majority, with shares of 56 per cent of total trips. All major European markets recorded increases when compared to last year. There was a significant increase in trips by sea.

Outbound passengers in the first six months of the year totalled 149,848 - an increase of 11 per cent when compared to 2012. An estimated 87 per cent chose to visit EU destinations, with Italy and the UK ranking as the most popular destinations.

In total, both EU and non-EU trips registered increases, reaching 129,821 and 20,027 respectively.

Same-day visitors for the first half of the year numbered 18,768.

More than half the trips were for holiday purposes, 22 per cent for business and professional reasons.

Total estimated outlay last year stood at €142.3 million, equivalent to €124.6 per night. Total package expenditure stood at €14.6 million (€90.9 per night), while that for non-package trips stood at €49.2 million (€50 per night).

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