As we approach the end of the first quarter of 2026, it’s also time to review the data on the performance of Gozo’s collective accommodation establishments in the last quarter of 2025, which was just published by the National Statistics Office.
Characterised by overall growth and strong demand across the tourism sector, arrivals during the period October to December 2025 increased by 24% compared to 2024. Similarly, there was a distinctive 17% growth in nights spent on the island. All this contributed to a total inbound bed nights of 1.17 million, which is an upward push of 7%. These figures are indicative that tourism is increasingly contributing more to Gozo’s economy. The growth being experienced can be considered to be a sustained expansion of the sector. However, one notes that, in comparing arrivals with nights spent, the increase in the % of arrivals (24%) outpaces the increase in nights spent (17%), suggesting the need for strategies that need to address longer stays.
This positive outlook is further sustained by the trends. One key trend for the period is that 5-star accommodation service providers experienced a 19% increase over 2024. This increased demand for higher-end accommodation also points to a shift towards quality rather than quantity and to a higher-spending, more affluent type of visitor on the island. This presents an opportunity to consider the creation and further development of premium offerings that meet the needs of these segments.
The distribution of arrivals clearly points to quarter 3 (the summer season) as the strongest quarter accounting for 33%, followed by quarters 4 and 2, at 26% each, and quarter 1 (the winter season) at 15%. These figures show a more even distribution flanked by strongly performing mid-seasons, which reduces the dependence on the peak summer months. In other words, Gozo is shifting to stronger shoulder and off-peak performance, strengthening Gozo as an all-year-round destination.
In order to have an accurate view of the tourism sector in Gozo, one cannot refrain from focusing on the international and domestic tourism strands separately to be able to gauge the diversified demand. In terms of visitor share, the arrivals figures for domestic and international are a balanced mix (50.2% domestic and 49.8% international), but when looking at the nights spent, the international market is actually contributing more overnight value – 61% when compared to the 39% of the domestic figure. This can be indicative of foreign tourists who stay longer on the island when compared to the domestic market, which is typically made up of more weekend breaks.
When looking at arrivals, the international arrivals figure climbed to 28%, while the nights spent reflected an increase of 15%. This significant market expansion points to stronger appeal and distinctive visibility for Gozo as a destination, potentially driven by more compelling marketing activities. The domestic market too experienced a significant increase, comparable to the international one. In fact, domestic arrivals recorded a rise of 20%, and the nights spent grew by 22%. These figures clearly indicate that the domestic market remains resilient and continues to stand as a key stabiliser during the typical off-peak season.
Viewing the data for Gozo’s collective accommodation establishments from this angle, Q4 2025 reflects a tourism sector that is growing and evolving positively. The trends that marked 2025 in terms of arrivals, market diversification, and all-year-round performance are not only encouraging but should now propel strategies to retain the momentum by focusing on aspects such as quality, sustainability, and longer stays to maximise opportunities while preserving the island’s unique character.