EU residents holidaying within the bloc tend to spend more in Malta than in nearly any other EU destination, according to fresh Eurostat data.

While the average nightly spend for EU citizens travelling abroad within the EU stands at €121, visitors to Malta spent significantly more – €150 per night on average.

This places Malta second in the EU for highest tourist spending per night, just behind Finland, where the figure reaches €164.

At the other end of the scale, Slovakia and Romania emerged as the most budget-friendly destinations, with average nightly spending at €71 and €80 respectively.

A deeper dive into the data, which refers to 2023 figures, reveals that EU visitors to Malta spend disproportionately on accommodation – more than double the amount recorded in France. This may partly reflect the type of accommodation available locally, with many resort hotels offering full or half-board packages, which naturally drive up nightly expenditure.

Malta also ranks second in terms of “other expenditure,” suggesting EU tourists are willing to spend across various aspects of their stay.

The figures highlight Malta’s evolving position within the European tourism landscape, as the country continues to shift towards attracting higher-spending visitors.

This strategy has been backed by significant investment in the hospitality sector, with a wave of new hotels, experiences, and premium offerings entering the market in recent years. Both local and international investors are capitalising on this momentum, helping reshape Malta’s tourism profile for a more value-driven future.