Exploring Malta Through Military Tourism

A new, niche product is set to attract more tourism to the Maltese Islands.

On May 8, the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) commemorated four significant World War II episodes at Mtarfa Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery during War Graves Week, marking a poignant moment in the nation’s history.

Held at a solemn yet engaging event, the ceremony featured historical interpretation through theatrical performance and music.

This commemoration was not just a tribute to Malta’s wartime legacy - it also served as one of a series of events from VisitMalta’s new tourism niche: Military Tourism on the Maltese Islands.

Military tourism, a growing global travel trend, focuses on exploring historical sites, battlefields, museums, and memorials related to past conflicts. For Malta, this tourism segment is especially meaningful. Strategically located in the heart of the Mediterranean, Malta has been a key military stronghold for centuries.

From the Great Siege of 1565 to its pivotal role in World War II, where it earned the George Cross for bravery, Malta’s landscape is deeply etched with military heritage.

The preservation and presentation of these stories not only honour those who served but also offer visitors a deeper understanding of the island’s enduring resilience and strategic significance.

The War Graves Week event reflects MTA’s broader effort to enhance cultural and historical appreciation through immersive experiences.

By combining storytelling, live performances, and authentic settings, such events bring history to life, appealing to both international visitors and locals alike.

Military tourism in Malta is set to integrate into a broader cultural tourism framework. It will overlap with other experiential tourism segments such as heritage tourism, educational travel, and even adventure tourism.

Through guided tours of fortifications, reenactments, museum exhibitions, and access to preserved wartime relics, this segment will offer layered experiences that resonate with history buffs, students, veterans, and casual tourists alike.

This initiative is part of a strategic push by the MTA to diversify Malta’s tourism offerings, extending the appeal beyond its sun-and-sea image. As more travellers seek meaningful, story-rich experiences, military tourism offers a compelling way to explore Malta’s identity, shaped over centuries of conflict and courage.

With its new Military Tourism segment, Malta is not just remembering its past, it is transforming it into a bridge for cultural engagement, education, and respectful commemoration.

Malta Tourism Authority CEO Carlo Micallef commented: “With the official launch of the Military Tourism Niche, VisitMalta continues with its strategy to promote the Maltese Islands as a destination offering a unique, enriching, and memorable holiday to attract quality tourism that chooses the destination for what it offers rather than for the price.

The military tourism niche is another product that offers a new perspective of the Islands to an audience that so far has not been tapped fully,” Micallef concluded.