Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545873
4 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 17 JULY 2026 NEWS GOZO attracted 268,229 tour- ists in May, accounting for more than half of all visitors to the Maltese Islands, according to figures released by the National Statistics Office. The total includes 242,929 same-day visitors and 25,300 tourists who stayed over- night, representing 58.6% of the 457,636 tourists who visit- ed Malta and Gozo during the month. The NSO said the number of visitors to Gozo in May increased by 20.8% when compared to the same month last year. Between January and May 2026, Gozo welcomed a total of 845,587 tourists, including 782,368 same-day visitors and 63,219 overnight visitors. This represented 50.5% of all tour- ist arrivals in Malta during the first five months of the year and marked a 12.9% increase over the same period in 2025. Nationally, Malta recorded 457,636 inbound tourists in May, an increase of 22.3% com- pared to May 2025. Tourist nights spent during the month reached 2.59 million, while total tourist expenditure was estimated at €419.9 million. Rented accommodation estab- lishments accounted for the majority of guest nights, with an 88% share. For the first five months of 2026, Malta recorded 1.89 mil- lion inbound tourists and 9.2 million nights spent. Total tour- ist expenditure during this pe- riod reached €1.34 billion, with average spending per tourist es- timated at €800. Gozo welcomed over 268,000 tourists in May as arrivals rise by 20.8% LAURA CALLEJA lcalleja@mediatoday.com.mt World heritage bid for Valletta, Mdina and the Cittadella fortifications MALTA is advancing two UNE- SCO-related initiatives aimed at strengthening its role in the pro- tection and management of cul- tural heritage, both nationally and internationally. The first is the nomination of the Fortifications of St John for in- scription on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The proposed seri- al nomination includes Valletta's harbour fortifications, Mdina and the Ċittadella in Gozo. Preparatory work on the nom- ination has included research, documentation, technical assess- ments and the development of the nomination dossier under the guidance of the National World Heritage Technical Committee. The next phase will focus on public engagement, with local communities, local councils and heritage organisations expected to contribute to the nomination process and the long-term man- agement of the sites. The second initiative is Malta's candidature for election to the UNESCO World Heritage Com- mittee, the body responsible for implementing the 1972 World Heritage Convention and over- seeing the inscription and conser- vation of World Heritage proper- ties. The convention seeks to identi- fy, protect and preserve cultural and natural heritage considered to have Outstanding Universal Value. Its 21-member committee, elected by the States Parties to the Convention, is responsible for deciding which sites are inscribed on the World Heritage List and for monitoring their state of con- servation. Election to the committee would allow Malta to participate directly in international deci- sion-making on World Heritage policy and conservation. Can- didates are expected to demon- strate a sustained commitment to the principles of the convention, expertise in heritage protection and experience in managing cul- tural or natural heritage. Malta's candidature is support- ed by its experience in managing its three existing UNESCO World Heritage properties and its long- standing participation in UNES- CO programmes and initiatives. Among those contributing to the country's UNESCO efforts are archaeologist Anthony Pace and maritime archaeologist Tim- my Gambin. Pace, a graduate of the Univer- sity of Malta who holds a doc- torate from the University of Cambridge, served as Malta's first Superintendent of Cultural Herit- age. During his career, he contrib- uted to the development of the country's heritage protection framework and was involved in major archaeological projects, including the Ħal Saflieni Hypo- geum and the Xagħra Stone Cir- cle. He currently coordinates the nomination of the Fortifications of St John for UNESCO World Heritage inscription. Gambin is recognised for his work in maritime archaeology and underwater cultural herit- age. His research has focused on Malta's maritime history and the protection of underwater archae- ological sites in the Mediterrane- an. He is also the founder of the University of Malta's Master's programme in Global Maritime Archaeology, which was recently selected as one of 12 programmes worldwide to join UNESCO's Network in Underwater Archae- ology. The two initiatives form part of Malta's broader engagement with UNESCO, combining efforts to secure international recognition for additional heritage sites with participation in the governance of the World Heritage Convention. The proposed serial nomination includes the Cittadella in Gozo Tourist nights spent during the month reached 2.59 million