Malta Tourism Authority reported an increase in North American tourists for the first half of 2018. It recorded a 28.2 percent increase from the U.S. market alone and a 23.5 percent increase from Canada.

“An important part of Malta’s appeal to the North American traveler is that English is an official language. It is a safe, peaceful and stable EU democracy, with better vacation value than in other more expensive European countries,” said Michelle Buttigieg, North American representative, Malta Tourism Authority.

“The increase is also due to the Malta Tourism Authority’s continued promotional campaigns targeting niche markets that reflect the diversity of Malta and Gozo’s tourism product. MTA has also garnered major publicity in the United States and Canada because it is proactive in working with prominent journalists and social media influencers,” she added.

Additionally, the Malta capital, Valletta, was named the European Capital of Culture 2018 and since received heavy promotion in the media for its full calendar of festivals and events. Valletta’s 2018 festivities range from the Malta International Food Festival to the Valletta Film Festival.