Malta has been awarded Best International Tourism Destination at the Italian Tourism Awards – The Night of Excellence 2025, held on 10th December at The St Regis Rome, reinforcing the islands’ growing appeal within one of Europe’s most strategically important tourism markets.

The accolade was accepted by Ester Tamasi, Director of the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) for Italy, who highlighted the long-term strategic approach behind the recognition.

“This recognition belongs to our entire team and rewards the work shared with our head office and the many partners who, every day, allow us to tell the story of Malta and Gozo in an emotional and innovative way,” Ms Tamasi said.

“It is the result of a coherent and multidisciplinary strategy, capable of responding to the new needs of contemporary travellers. An intelligent tourism strategy works in numbers but stays in the heart – it creates economic value without losing the soul of the destination.”

The jury cited Malta’s strong performance in marketing, promotion and international tourism development, while also recognising the consistent work carried out by VisitMalta’s Italian office.

The awards ceremony, hosted by Gabriella Carlucci, was broadcast on Rai 2 on 16th December, giving Malta high-profile exposure across the Italian market.

Strategic focus on quality and sustainability

MTA CEO Carlo Micallef emphasised that the award reflects Malta’s evolving tourism model and its close collaboration with industry stakeholders.

“This recognition reflects the strength of our relationship with the Italian market and the close collaboration we enjoy with stakeholders,” Mr Micallef said.

“Our strategy is firmly focused on quality, sustainability and year-round tourism, ensuring Malta and Gozo continue to offer meaningful experiences while safeguarding what makes our islands unique.”

Throughout 2025, MTA implemented a multi-layered strategy aimed at positioning Malta and Gozo as premium, all-season destinations, with initiatives centred on human capital development, immersive storytelling, cross-sector collaboration and sustainable destination management.

A particular focus was placed on Gozo and Comino as slow and green destinations, aligning tourism growth with environmental stewardship and community value.

Among the flagship initiatives was “Nessuna donna è un’isola”, a cultural project combining wellness, female identity and destination storytelling. The initiative featured photography exhibitions, yoga retreats and curated experiences, earning praise from both audiences and critics while strengthening Malta’s narrative in the Italian market.