As tourists brace for another year of being made unwelcome in some of Europe’s busiest hotspots, many are searching for destinations that want their money. Spain, Greece and Italy are on an ever-increasing wave of anti-tourist sentiment.
Last month, hundreds of thousands of Spaniards took to the streets in 40 cities nationwide to demand a solution to their housing crisis, which they believe has been exacerbated by short-term rentals. However, there are nations in the Mediterranean that are actively encouraging visitors this summer. This small island country, nestled between Sicily and North Africa, is one of them.
Malta, officially the Republic of Malta, is an island country in Southern Europe located 50 miles south of Italy and 176 miles east of Tunisia.
Covering an area of 122 square miles and home to over half a million people, Malta is the world’s tenth-smallest country by area and the ninth-most densely populated. Its stunning capital, Valletta, is also the smallest capital in the EU in terms of both area and population.
Unlike Spain and Greece, the Maltese are encouraging tourists to visit their stunning shores, with locals acknowledging the perks of tourism for their home country.
Stepping into the country, British tourists will find themselves at home, despite being around a three-hour flight away. The aptly named “Tourist Street” in St Paul’s Bay, a town on the northeast coast, is lined with rows of British-themed pubs including Diana’s and the “Red Lion”, selling pints as cheap as £3.20. They are enjoyed by tourists and locals alike.
Marisa Farrugia, manager of the Red Lion, said Brits who feel unwanted elsewhere in Europe should choose Malta for a warm welcome. She told the MailOnline: “We get a lot of British tourists in here. The more we have, the better for us! I think tourists feel more welcomed in Malta, the locals are more friendly here. If they’re not welcome elsewhere because of anti-tourism, hopefully people will come here more.”
Unlike the growing sentiment in other parts of Europe, locals know they need high levels of tourism.
Ms Farrugia said: “I don’t think we have any anti-tourism feelings here. People rely on tourism here a lot.
“I remember when Covid hit and the airport closed here, for years it was literally like a ghost town.
“Without the tourists we had nothing. It’s very important for us.”
Malta is home to an impressive three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Neolithic subterranean structure of Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, the City of Valletta and no less than seven megalithic temples, which are some of the oldest free-standing structures in the world.
Gozo Island is the second largest of the Maltese archipelago, home to the picturesque capital of Victoria, known for its medieval Citadel and fortified walls.
Last year, Malta welcomed a record-breaking 3.6 million visitors, a 19.5% increase compared to 2023. Tourism infrastructure has increased dramatically in recent years and a number of hotels are present on the island.