Tourists Rarely Tip In Malta: Locals Say 5% Is Fair
Tipping is not second nature in Malta, especially for visitors.
According to a nationwide survey carried out by Sagalytics on behalf of the Association of Catering Establishments, 40% of tourists leave no tip at all when dining out. In contrast, only 14% of locals do the same. Most Maltese diners say a 5% tip is fair when they are satisfied. Tourists tend to tip less, and less often.
The study, conducted by Prof. Vincent Marmarà’s research firm Sagalytics in June 2025, surveyed 500 individuals. These included 400 Maltese residents and 100 tourists. It explored how people choose, experience and spend at catering establishments in Malta. The results highlight clear differences in habits, expectations and behaviour.
One key finding was the contrast in spending. Tourists spend more per outing, while locals spend more over time. The average tourist spends €41.67 per visit, with most reporting a spend of around €50. Local respondents were more varied, with a monthly average of €94.77. This included 31% spending under €50 and nearly 29% spending around €100.
When asked about restaurant pricing, the difference in perception widened. While 58.5% of locals said catering establishments in Malta are expensive, only 14.5% of tourists agreed. In fact, 55.4% of tourists said they believe restaurants offer good value for money. Just 13.8% of locals shared that view.
Despite this difference, most people dine out for pleasure or entertainment. That figure stood at 94.2% for locals and 97.6% for tourists. Locals typically eat out once a week or once a month. Among tourists, 44.6% said they dine out once a day, and 32.5% said they do so twice a day.
The survey also examined what drives restaurant choice. For locals, cuisine type was the leading factor (34%), followed by menu prices (20.2%) and food quality (16.3%). Tourists rated menu prices and cuisine equally (28.9%), with location and quality close behind (20.5% each).
When asked what makes a dining experience positive, both groups ranked food quality first, followed by quality of service. Ambience and location were rated lower. Locals gave food an average ranking of 1.6 (on a scale from 1 to 4), while tourists gave it 1.7.
Outdoor seating was preferred by 58% of locals. Tourists were more evenly split, with 50.7% preferring outdoor and 49.3% choosing indoor tables.
When asked what they would do if they could not attend a booking, 95.9% of locals and 94% of tourists said they would inform the restaurant. Just 4.1% of locals and 6% of tourists admitted they would not show up without notice.
In terms of quality over time, 49.7% of locals said Maltese restaurants have improved in the past ten years. Only 26.5% said they had declined.
Finally, when asked about child- or pet-friendly venues, most respondents said they did not seek them out. That included 59.6% of locals and 85.5% of tourists. Among those who did express a preference, child-friendly establishments were more popular than pet-friendly ones.
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