The number of Maltese passengers departing by air and sea last year was 257,167, a 14.3 per cent increase over the previous year, the National Statistics Office reported.

During this period, the most frequent destination was Italy, accounting for 30.6 per cent of the total number of Maltese going abroad by both air and sea.

For the period January-December 2006, male outbound passengers exceeded female passengers, the former accounting for 60.2 per cent of the total number of Maltese travellers.

The greatest proportion of outbound passengers, 46.9 per cent, comprised passengers aged between 25 and 44 years, followed by those in the 45-64 age bracket, who accounted for 40.5 per cent of total Maltese travellers.

December 2006

Maltese passengers during December 2006 reached a total of 23,813. Of these 19,480 travelled to European Union destinations, the most frequent destinations being the UK and Italy.

Outbound tourists for the month of December amounted to 23,813, bringing the total for the period January-December 2006 to 257,167. Of these, 87.2 per cent travelled by air.