Italy most popular destination among Maltese air travellers

The number of Maltese passengers leaving Malta in November amounted to 13,282, including 12,774 who departed by air - an increase of 0.4 per cent over the same month in 2003, according to figures released by the National Statistics Office.

In the first 11 months of last year, 185,963 Maltese passengers departed by air. Compared to the same period a year earlier this shows an increase of 18.9 per cent. The change was approximately double the seven per cent increase that occurred in the same period when comparing 2003 with 2002. This change had offset the decline of 5.8 per cent registered in the period January-November 2002 over January-November 2001.

Of the Maltese passengers departing by air during January-November 2004, 97.7 per cent spent less than six months away. On the other hand, 0.6 per cent of Maltese passengers travelling by air spent 12 months or more.

In the period under review, the most popular destination among the Maltese departing by air was Italy. This accounted for 23.8 per cent of the total.

The next most sought after destinations were the United Kingdom (22.5 per cent), France (7.3 per cent), Tunisia (7.1 per cent) and Germany (five per cent).

When compared to the same period in 2003, increases were recorded in the main destinations listed above as follows: Italy (+13.5 per cent), the United Kingdom (+15 per cent), France (+61 per cent) and Germany (+29.8 per cent). On the other hand, Maltese departures to Tunisia decreased by 1.6 per cent.