WTTC brings global tourism leaders to Valletta – Malta’s travel and tourism sector continues to thrive | News
Valletta will take center stage this October when the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) brings together the world’s most influential travel and tourism leaders for its Global Summit, taking place from 7 to 9 October 2026.
The summit will convene CEOs, ministers, investors and key stakeholders to discuss the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of global travel, strengthen public-private partnerships and explore avenues for sustainable growth and investment.
As Malta prepares to host a major travel and tourism event, the country’s own tourism success story provides a compelling backdrop. According to WTTC’s latest Economic Impact Research, travel and tourism is expected to contribute $4.9 billion to the Maltese economy by 2026, accounting for 16.9% of GDP and supporting 72,200 jobs nationwide – equating to more than one in five jobs nationwide.
These figures reinforce Malta’s position as one of Europe’s most dynamic and tourism-driven economies, while highlighting the important role that travel and tourism continue to play in driving growth, investment and opportunity across the country.
Over the past decade, Malta has become a benchmark for how destinations can balance strong tourism growth with quality, sustainability and year-round value creation. The number of international arrivals has increased from 2.75 million in 2019 to four million in 2025.
This success is underpinned by a resilient and well-diversified demand base. In 2025, Malta’s international visitor mix was led by the United Kingdom (21%), followed by Italy (15%) and Poland (10%), with France and Germany each contributing 7%.
International visitor spending is expected to exceed $4 billion this year, up from $3.9 billion in 2025, when it accounted for 91% of total travel and tourism spending. Spending is forecast to rise further to $5 billion by 2036. Domestic visitor spending is also expected to maintain its upward momentum and reach $378.5 million by 2026.
Looking ahead, WTTC predicts that Travel & Tourism will contribute $6.5 billion to the Maltese economy by 2036 and support more than 90,000 jobs, accounting for almost a quarter of all employment nationwide.
Valletta is becoming the global stage for shaping the future of travel and tourism
From October 7 to 9, Valletta will be the meeting place for the world’s most influential travel and tourism leaders. CEOs, ministers, investors and innovators from across the sector will gather in Malta to discuss the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of travel, share insights on growth and investment and strengthen collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Gloria Guevara, President & CEO of WTTC, said: “Valletta provides an extraordinary setting for the conversations that will shape the future of global travel and tourism. As one of Europe’s most historic and vibrant capitals, it provides the ideal backdrop for leaders to come together and explore the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of the sector and unlock new opportunities for sustainable growth.
This event is organized in collaboration with the Malta Tourism Authority and the Government of Malta.
Malta represents exactly the kind of destination that will help shape the future of travel and tourism. The country serves not only as a host country, but also as a destination that demonstrates how travel and tourism can drive prosperity, create opportunity and deliver long-term value for both communities and businesses.
With the sector set to support one in five jobs and contribute almost 17% of GDP, Malta is demonstrating the transformative power of travel and tourism when led by strategic vision, collaboration and innovation.
We look forward to welcoming leaders from across the global travel and tourism sector to Malta in October for the WTTC Global Summit.”
Hon. Ian Borg, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health of Malta, said: “When Malta committed to hosting the WTTC Global Summit, it reflected our confidence in the strength of our tourism sector and our belief in its importance to the future prosperity of our country. The remarkable growth reflected in WTTC’s latest figures demonstrates the success of Malta’s long-term vision and the strong partnership between government and industry. We look forward to welcoming world leaders to Valletta in October and showcasing Malta’s unique demonstrate its ability to combine economic success, sustainability and world-class visitor experiences.”
Dr. Jo Etienne Abela, Minister of Tourism of Malta, said: “Travel and tourism is one of Malta’s great success stories and a vital driver of employment, investment and opportunity on our islands. As we prepare to welcome delegates from around the world to WTTC’s Global Summit, we have a unique opportunity to showcase Malta’s achievements while engaging with industry leaders about the future of the sector. We look forward to hosting the world’s premier travel and tourism event and show why Malta remains one of Europe’s most dynamic and attractive destinations.”
