The La Valette Marathon, powered by VisitMalta, proudly announces its 2025 edition set for Sunday, March 23, 2025. The highly anticipated marathon, now in its fourth year, continues to gain international recognition on the running calendar, garnering acclaim as one of Europe’s most scenic routes. This announcement was made during a press conference held today, addressed by Corsa CEO Matthew Pace and VisitMalta CEO Mr. Carlo Micallef.
Matthew Pace, CEO of Corsa, the organization behind the La Vallette Marathon, opened the press conference. “We are pleased to announce the fourth edition of the La Valette Marathon, powered by VisitMalta. This event not only highlights Malta’s natural beauty and historical significance but also positions Malta as a key destination for sports tourism. It is an AIMS-certified marathon featuring various race categories and is recognized as an Abbott World Marathon Majors qualifier. With participants growing two-fold year on year and tourism more than doubling, our continued partnership with VisitMalta was a natural progression.”
Malta Tourism Authority CEO Mr Carlo Micallef emphasized the unique appeal of the marathon, noting how it connects Malta’s rich history and cultural heritage with the vibrant spirit of sports tourism. “Participation has increased year on year, demonstrating the appeal of this event. With participants from over 55 countries, Malta is firmly on the map as a scenic marathon destination in Europe.”
The La Valette Marathon offers a variety of races to cater to different levels of runners, including the full marathon, half marathon, 10K, and 5K races. Additionally, the event features a relay race and a 21-kilometre walkathon for those looking to experience the course at a leisurely pace.
Minister for Tourism and Public Cleanliness Hon. Clayton Bartolo, commented on the economic and cultural significance of the marathon. “The La Valette Marathon is not just a race; it’s a celebration of Malta’s heritage and community spirit. The influx of tourists from top markets like the UK, Poland, Germany, Italy, Spain, and long-haul markets, including Thailand, Canada, USA, China, Japan, and Brazil, speaks volumes about Malta’s growing reputation as a sports tourism destination”.
Drawing parallels with the growth of the marathon, increasing its participants and aggregate tourism year on year, a report from Technavio predicts that Europe will occupy a significant market share of the sports tourism industry, with 57% of growth expected to originate from Europe between 2020 and 2025. In this period, the sports tourism market will grow by $890.9 billion (approx. €866.76 billion) at a compound annual growth rate of 13.37%. Like La Valette, marathons around Europe play a crucial role in this growth.
The marathon’s AIMS certification meets international standards and allows participants to qualify for the ABBOTT World Marathon Majors. This recognition places the La Valette Marathon amongst other international races, further enhancing its appeal.
