Gen Z

Gen Z

Komodo and Visit Malta Launch Gen Z Travel Campaign

Komodo and Visit Malta Launch Gen Z Travel Campaign

After the success of The Journey with Visit Singapore, social-first agency Komodo returns with a bold new campaign: Meet Me In Malta: The Social Bucket List. In collaboration with Visit Malta, the initiative targets Gen Z and Millennial travellers from the US, Australia, Europe, and Ireland, using gamified storytelling, live audience interaction, and a globally curated creator lineup to spotlight Malta as a must-visit destination.

Building on the successful formula of The Journey, which generated over 50 million impressions and a 32% follower uplift for Visit Singapore, the Malta campaign will see top TikTok creators complete a curated series of bucket list adventures across Malta’s iconic regions: the stunning sister islands of Gozo and Comino, the historic streets of Valletta, and the ancient cities of Mdina and Rabat. Meanwhile, audiences will guide the journey, voting in polls, solving clues, and influencing what happens next.

From kayaking the Blue Lagoon in Comino and dancing at hidden beach parties, to late-night discoveries in Malta’s vibrant nightlife scene, wine tasting at the Inquisitors Palace, discovering Casa Rocca Poccila and uncovering local culinary delights like the perfect Ftira sandwich, The Social Bucket List is set to inspire Gen Z and Millennial travellers to pick Malta over other popular Mediterranean destinations.

Whether it’s crafting Gen Z horoscopes with local mystics, joining a traditional regatta crew in the Grand Harbour, or navigating Mdina’s winding alleys in search of the best views, every challenge is made to be shared, and shaped by the community watching. Creators will post in real-time across TikTok and Instagram, with challenges framed as cryptic missions that lean into Gen Z behaviours like trend-chasing, co-creation and chaotic spontaneity.

Visit Malta hopes that the creators’ young followers will add Malta to their bucket lists as well as the campaign aiding in the island’s diversification of its tourism market by attracting new regions and emerging markets.

Nick Seymour, co-founder at Komodo, comments: “Younger audiences don’t want ads – they want experiences.

“With Meet Me In Malta, we’re turning travel marketing into entertainment. This campaign is about placing creators and their followers in the driving seat – solving clues, unlocking hidden gems, and discovering a version of Malta they won’t find in a brochure. Along with The Journey, this campaign represents a new era of influencer marketing, one that prioritises authenticity, engagement, and audience participation.

“We’ve seen first-hand the power that influencers, social media and particularly TikTok can have on a destination and how creator partnerships are revolutionising marketing strategies, breaking traditional rules and delivering superior results.”

Mr Carlo Micallef, CEO of the Malta Tourism Authority, comments: “VisitMalta believes that the future of tourism lies in emotional connection and cultural discovery and with ‘Meet Me In Malta’, we are inviting a new generation of travellers to engage with our islands in a way that is authentic, immersive, and community-driven. By meeting the next generation where they are, on platforms like TikTok, we’re ensuring Malta and Gozo remain both relevant and remarkable on the world stage. This initiative is a strategic step in attracting quality tourism from emerging markets, by showcasing the very soul of the Maltese Islands through the voices and experiences of global creators.”

Komodo is already in talks with tourism boards around the world to roll out similar campaigns under The Journey umbrella, where tourism becomes the content, allowing social audiences to become part of the adventure.

SURVEY: Gen Z Are More Sun Savvy Than Gen X

SURVEY: Gen Z Are More Sun Savvy Than Gen X

The UK’s fastest-growing online beauty retailer, Face the Future,  is sharing findings from a YouGov survey of over 2,000 participants – which highlights differing attitudes towards sun safety in the UK when it comes to Gen Z and Gen X.

  • More ​18-24-year ​olds​ (53%)​ than​ 45-54 ​year ​olds ​(30%) ​and ​adults​ aged ​55+​(25%) ​agreed​ that​ you should wear SPF year-round
  • Over half (55%) of 45–54-year-olds disagree that you should wear SPF year-round.
  • 60% of the UK aged 45-54 only apply SPF when it’s sunny in comparison to 43% of 18–24-year-olds.
  • Just over a fifth (21%) of Gen-X tend to agree with medical advice to wear SPF daily in comparison to just a third (32%) of Gen-Z
  • Gen-Z wear a higher SPF than Gen-X with 40% wearing SPF50+ daily on face and body in comparison to only 32% of Gen-X
  • 70% of Gen-Z seek a tan for confidence and 59% seek a tan to look more attractive
  • 23% of Gen-Z seek a tan to help with a skin condition in comparison to 13% of Gen-X

Kimberley Medd, Head of Clinic, Face the Future, says: 

“No matter the weather, the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays are ever present throughout the year, causing damage to the DNA in your skin cells that can result in premature ageing, skin cancer and a host of other skin-related issues. Because of this, it’s important to wear your shield of UV protection every day to protect your skin against the likes of melanoma skin cancer. 

Gen Z wearing more SPF than Gen X can be attributed to a variety of factors in my opinion. Growing up in the digital age, Gen Z has unparalleled access to information, leading to heightened awareness of the long-term effects of sun exposure like skin cancer and premature ageing. We also know that they prioritise skincare as a facet of self-care and wellness, influenced by social media’s pervasive beauty trends and sentiments from influencers. These factors collectively foster a generation that sees SPF as an essential component of their skincare regime, setting them apart from previous generations like Gen X.”

Face the Future have announced a VAT Burn on sun protection products following the findings with 20% off products marketed for sun protection, which has been extended until the end of August.

*all figures, unless otherwise stated, are from yougov plc. total sample size was 2,065 adults. fieldwork was undertaken between 6th – 7th February 2024. the survey was carried out online. the figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+)