Malta has reported a dramatic increase in sales and the number of Brits travelling to the destination this year following the easing of travel restrictions by the UK government.
The Malta Tourism Authority, which has announced a pop-up experience for London this summer to celebrate the rise in visitor numbers, said holidaymakers’ confidence had been boosted by the decision to drop the need for pre-departure health measures and PCR tests for fully vaccinated travellers to Malta from May 9. Malta is also no longer classifying countries as ‘red’ or ‘dark red’.
The destination said tour operators have reported ‘significant increases’ in forward bookings. Mercury Holidays has reported a hike of 366% for June to September bookings compared with the same period in 2021. Love Holidays has seen an overall rise in advance bookings for the same period year on year and is also up on 2019 bookings.
Malta Tourism Authority said its new pop-up experience and hand-painted mural will be brought to London on June 15 and 16 to highlight the islands as a foodie and art destination. It will host the Visit Malta food and wine pop up at BoxPark Shoreditch to celebrate what the destination has to offer and allow visitors to sample its street food and traditional cuisine.
The pop-up will also feature a special appearance by Manchester United legend and former England national footballer Wes Brown on June 16 while a mural will show the Maltese islands and will be visible on Ebor Street from May 30 to June 26.
Tourism authority director Tolene Van Der Merwe said: “People are feeling a lot more confident in returning to international travel, clearly demonstrated by the dramatic rise in advanced bookings, and emphasises Malta’s place as a key destination for Brits this summer.
“Now that pre-departure PCR testing measures for UK tourists travelling to Malta have ended, individuals feel reassured and have found it easier to travel abroad again.
“We are delighted to bring a glimpse of Malta directly to the UK. Our mural and pop up will showcase what visitors to our beautiful archipelago can expect – gorgeous landscapes, delicious cuisine, and inspiring art.”