Malta is the first country to confirm that it will pay visitors this summer, with the aim of recovering tourist losses linked to COVID.
the Mediterranean the island reports a surplus of 2 million inbound travelers each year and hopes to encourage some of them to come back with its new program, Incentives for Free Independent Travelers (FIT).
Guests can expect to receive a government subsidy depending on the length of their stay, the star rating of the hotel visited, and the region they are visiting. Anything that the government puts in place will be compensated by the hotels that join the program, with a maximum saving of € 200 per person.
The average fortnightly accommodation for two in Malta is around € 1,400, which means couples could see their hotel stays reduced by almost a third.
Here’s what you need to know about the program and how to get involved.
Why Malta?
Because the Isle heavily dependent on tourism. This sunny paradise is full of food, culture and seemingly endless beaches that represent more of its GDP than that of its neighbors, Italy and Greece. The number of visitors has fallen by 80% in the past year, causing a shock wave in its economy.
Malta is one of the first European countries to make concrete tourism plans because he has done much better than others to deal with COVID cases.
In fact, its total case rate for the past year is lower than what other countries have achieved per day.
How much will I be paid?
It all depends on the type of hotel you are staying at – up to € 200 per person.
Tourists staying in five star hotels will benefit from a reduction of € 100 on their stay, which will be compensated by the Maltese government. The same goes for those who stay in three and four star hotels, where each person will save a total of € 100 and € 175 respectively.
People visiting the neighboring island of Gozo will receive an additional 10% discount for their stay.
Who is the diet for?
The program is aimed specifically at “free individual travelers”, that is, people who book their own trips rather than using a vacation package or agent. It aims to attract up to 35,000 tourists.
Apart from that, it is open to anyone wishing to explore the country without taking COVID with them.
When does the diet start?
Malta intends to lift its travel restrictions on June 1, so the program will start then.
Will I need a vaccine?
Malta opens its borders to any visitor who can provide proof that they have been vaccinated more than 10 days before their arrival.
They are able to invite foreign travelers to the country with such confidence because their vaccine deployment is going incredibly well. After the United Kingdom, it is the best in Europe.
Where can I stay?
Applications are open to all hotels wishing to get involved in the system. It is expected that the majority of sites around the island will embark to attract as many visitors as possible, old and new.
Who finances it?
It’ll be cheaper than you might imagine, but it’s still a huge investment.
The Tourist Office has allocated 3.5 million euros to the program and hopes to attract 35,000 visitors through it.
Maltese Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo said the program “aims to put Malta’s hotels in a very competitive position as international tourism picks up again”.
Is it safe to travel to Malta?
Malta is confident in developing these plans due to a combination of its vaccination program and low case rates.
Anyone planning their trip should follow the guidelines of their respective countries of origin and destination.
You can find all the relevant information updates here.