A total of 20,000 passengers arrived in the first week since Malta International Airport reopened, the Government said.

An official statement said 220 flights were operated from and Malta and the Sicily catamaran operated 11 trips. More destinations will be served as from next week.

Tourism Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli visited two five-star hotels, a boutique hotel and a three-star property where she was shown embellishment projects taken in hand during the COVID-19 containment period. Hoteliers informed her that visitors were responding positively to the situation in Malta and they looked forward to a good summer.

Ms Farrugia Portelli met tourists from Austria, Denmark, Italy, Ireland and the Czech Republic, some of them on their first visit to the island, including a couple on their honeymoon.

The Minister said the performance so far was encouraging and hotel bookings were being confirmed. Flights were gradually increasing and the demand for holidays in Malta was growing, she added.