A new hotel in St Julian's was inaugurated by Prime Minister Robert Abela and Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg on Thursday, with the project having been a €40 million investment by Eden Leisure Group as part of the InterContinental Hotels Group, the Office of the Prime Minister stated.

The OPM said that the five-star VOCO hotel includes 168 modern rooms and is a testament to the private sector's confidence in the Maltese economy and the future of tourism in the country. The OPM continued that with the construction of the VOCO hotel, Eden Leisure Group is continuing to strengthen its relationship with the InterContinental Hotels Group, with this being the third hotel managed by the international company in Malta.

The OPM said that this investment continues to put Malta on the map as a quality tourism destination which combines hospitality with innovation. It added that Malta continues to consolidate its position as one of the most important international destinations in the world of tourism, with tourist expenditure in Malta having increased by 18.2% in the first eight months of 2025 when compared to the same period of 2024.

Referring to figures published by Eurostat, the OPM said that Malta ranked first among European countries for the number of accommodation nights, which it said had increased by almost 13% in the first half of 2025. It continued that the Maltese tourism sector is growing at a rate which exceeds the European average, as well as that of many other countries in the Mediterranean.

Prime Minister Abela said that this growth is the result of strategic choices and the implementation of strong initiatives, with the aim of sustainable economic growth. He spoke of Malta Vision 2050, and said that Malta is looking towards a future where tourism continues to focus on quality rather than quantity.