Malta Is Paying Tourists to Visit This Summer
Tourism in Malta has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. But now, Clayton Bartolo, the Mediterranean island's tourism minister, plans to bring tourist dollars back by paying for part of their accommodation.
The offer is available to visitors who stay for three or more nights starting in June, when most of the island's COVID-19 restrictions are expected to end. Tourists who stay at a participating five-star hotel will receive about $240 to help pay for their accommodation. Four-star guests will receive about $180, and three-star guests will get about $120.
Visitors staying on the Maltese island of Gozo, which is a 25-minute boat ride from Malta's main island, will get 10% more money.
Half of the money will be provided by the Malta Tourism Authority, and the other half by the hotels themselves. The Tourism Authority has put over $4 million into the plan, hoping it will bring about 35,000 visitors to Malta this summer.
The number of tourists to the country has decreased by more than 80% since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020. However, the new plan should put Malta's hotels in a very competitive position as international tourism restarts, Bartolo said.
Malta also has one of the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates in Europe. This is another reason why tourists may choose the island over other holiday locations — besides sea, sun and sand, of course!
