The five Heritage Malta sites that attracted the most visitors from January until June this year were Ggantija Temples in Gozo, Hagar Qim, Fort St Elmo, St Paul’s Catacombs, and Mnajdra.

Heritage Malta said that it has registered “encouraging statistics” regarding the number of visitors at its sites and museums during the first six months of 2023.

Records show that from January until June, 631,406 paying visitors entered Heritage Malta’s museums and sites.

The agency said that this indicates an increase of 16,366 visitors over the first six months of 2019 – the year preceding the start of the pandemic – when a total of 615,040 paying visitors were registered.

Figures for the first six months of the current year exclude sites which are temporarily closed due to major restoration works and which were still open in 2019.

In the first six months, there were also 62,856 non-paying visitors, including those who accessed sites and museums by making use of their student or senior passport, Heritage Malta said.

Compared to 2019, there was an increase in visitors’ spending per capita, including the purchase of merchandise from the gift shops located at Heritage Malta museums and sites.

While average spending per capita in the first six months of 2019 totalled €4.41, the figure stood at €5.51 between January and June of the current year.

Total revenue from ticket sales and gift shop purchases amounted to €3,443,275.05 in the first half of 2019, rising to €3,504,741.71 in the first six months of 2023. This means an increase of €61,466.66.

Minister for National Heritage, the Arts, and Local Government, Owen Bonnici, praised these outcomes and underlined the crucial role of the staff at Heritage Malta.

He said that the agency is not only strengthening Malta’s tourism product but also safeguarding our country’s rich and diverse history.

Noel Zammit, Heritage Malta’s Chief Executive Officer, expressed his satisfaction at these positive results, which reflect a collective effort by the agency’s employees.

He went on to say that this numerical data provides further proof that the pandemic’s experience made Heritage Malta more conscious of its own resources and resilience, spurring the agency to move forward with more optimism and determination than ever before.

File photo: Gozo News/Alain Salvary

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