Tourism was put on standby during the COVID-19 pandemic, as airports were forced to close and airlines had to cancel most of their flights. As a result, a number of players in the tourism industry had to lay off workers to minimise costs, which has created massive staff shortages after a rapid rise in demand...

Holiday bookings have surged as people finally feel relaxed enough to go on a long-awaited summer holiday abroad, travel agencies report. “We are seeing a sudden spike in demand with many making late bookings as they plan their holiday within a few weeks,” said Iain Tonna, president of the Federated Association of Travel and Tourism...

FATTA is participating in the EU-funded SUSTOUR project that fosters the uptake of sustainability tools and practices among travel agents and tour operators. A call for SME applications has been launched today with the aim to select 175+ European small and medium sized enterprises that will obtain technical support for the implementation of sustainability practices....

Travel and tourism agents welcome Government’s announcement reducing quarantine for primary contacts and its commitment to eliminate quarantine for vaccinated primary contacts from 7th March 2022 provided the virus numbers remain under control.   They also welcome the plan to eliminate the mandatory use of masks in public outdoor spaces as of 14th March 2022. In...

Travel and tourism agents welcome the new legal notice laying down the conditions allowing safe travel to and from Malta as the country gears itself for a cautious restart of tourism. FATTA has strongly advocated for a negative PCR test result to be a mandatory requirement verified prior to a traveller boarding a flight to...

FATTA welcomes the incentive scheme aimed at stimulating business travel for 2021 and 2022 as announced by the Minister for Tourism and Consumer Protection this afternoon. This scheme serves as a significant boost of encouragement for local DMCs (Destination Management Companies) who specialise in attracting MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) tourism to Malta and Gozo....

Travel and tourism agents laud the launch of the Tourism Recovery Plan as announced by the Minister Clayton Bartolo. FATTA firmly endorses the decision to reactivate tourism gradually from next June with a plan drawn up in consultation with the Public Health Authorities and welcomes the commitment by Government and the Malta Tourism Authority to...

The European Commission has published this morning an information note on clarifying rights of package travel customers in the context of mass cancellation of travel. ECTAA welcomes this updated information note on the rights of package travel customers, but still hopes for more. Brussels 19 March 2020. In an effort to contain the covid-19 spread,...

Covid-19 has brought travel and tourism to a standstill. Travel agents and tour operators call on the European Commission to allow a more flexible application of the European rules on package travel. Each day the Covid-19 outbreak is further slowing down the European economy. The unavoidable decisions to contain the corona pandemic are severely restricting...

The Federated Association of Travel & Tourism Agents (FATTA) welcomes the establishment of Malta Air and its acquisition as a Malta based subsidiary of Ryanair. In addition to increased connectivity and an increased Malta based fleet, the initiative is also positive as it should boost the growing aviation industry by increasing the number of commercial...