Impressive Results For Heritage Malta In The First Half Of 2023
Heritage Malta has reported promising visitor statistics for its sites and museums for the first half of 2023.
Data for January through June reveals that 631,406 paying visitors explored Heritage Malta’s museums and sites.
This represents an increase of 16,366 visitors compared to the first half of 2019— the year before the onset of the pandemic— when 615,040 paying visitors were recorded. The figures for the first half of 2023 exclude sites that are currently closed for major restoration, which were open in 2019.
During the same period in 2023, 62,856 non-paying visitors were recorded, including those who accessed sites and museums using student or senior passports.
Visitor spending per capita also saw an uptick compared to 2019, particularly in merchandise purchases from gift shops within Heritage Malta locations. While the average spending per visitor was €4.41 in the first half of 2019, it increased to €5.51 for the same period in 2023.
In terms of revenue, ticket sales and gift shop purchases generated €3,443,275.05 in the first six months of 2019. This figure rose to €3,504,741.71 in the corresponding period of 2023, marking an increase of €61,466.66.
The top five Heritage Malta attractions from January to June 2023 were Ġgantija, Ħaġar Qim, Fort St Elmo, St Paul’s Catacombs, and Mnajdra.
Owen Bonnici, the Minister for National Heritage lauded these impressive results and highlighted the invaluable contribution of the Heritage Malta staff.
He emphasised that Heritage Malta not only enhances Malta’s tourism appeal but also plays a vital role in preserving the nation’s rich and varied history.
Noel Zammit, the Chief Executive Officer of Heritage Malta, expressed his gratification over the positive figures. He noted that these results, a testament to the agency’s collective efforts, further demonstrate that Heritage Malta has emerged from the pandemic with heightened awareness of its capabilities and resilience, propelling the organisation forward with unparalleled optimism and determination.
What do you make of these figures?