The association has received an informative note, our Greek counterpart, with reference to the Greek legislation regarding the sale of travel services by tour operators and travel agencies established outside the European Union. This letter has been drafted in order to clarify the existing framework, following numerous violations of the rules by non-EU tour operators and...

The controversial tourist eco-tax will come into effect on 20 June, Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis said today. The eco-contribution, also known as the bed-tax, will be of 50 cents a day capped at €5 per stay. Dr Zammit Lewis made the announcement this afternoon shortly after a court rejected a request by a number...

A number of tourism operators today filed a request for a warrant of prohibitory injunction against the government related to the new Eco-Contribution Tax which obliges operators to pay €0.50 per night per tourist over 18, with a maximum of €5. The application was filed today by the Federation Association of Travel and Tourism Agents...

Incoming Tourism Agents and Destination Management Companies are disappointed by Government’s lack of consultation with all stakeholders on the introduction of the Eco Tax, the agents said in a statement. The Federated Association of Travel and Tourism Agents (FATTA) complained that the total lack of information on the tax until the eleventh hour is inconsiderate...

Five cruise ships with five different ownerships graced the Grand Harbour of Valletta on the 22nd of July. The cruise ships brought over 14,000 passengers and 5,000 crew members. As was expected, the Valletta waterfront and its surroundings were a hype of activity. The Malta Tourism Authorities also organised an In Guardia re-enactment along the...

101,769 tourists visited Malta in March, an increase of 4.1% when compared to March 2014. National statistics estimate that 101,769 tourists visited Malta in March, an increase iof 4.1% when compared to March 2014. 75,736 visits were carried out for holiday purposes, while a further 11,757 were undertaken for business purposes. Inbound tourists from EU...

FATTA has appointed Mr Michael Kamsky as an Honorary President of the Association following a motion passed during the last Annual General Meeting. Mr Kamsky is currently General Manager at The Westin Dragonara, a post he has held since 2007 having previously served as the hotel’s Director of Sales and Marketing since 2003 acheter generique...

Total arrivals and nights spent in collective accommodation establishments during May advanced by 9.5 and 2.2 per cent respectively when compared to the corresponding month last year. Total arrivals in collective accommodation establishments during the month under review numbered 156,747, while total nights spent amounted to 819,874. All hotel categories recorded increases in nights spent,...

Urge Government to Act Swiftly to Fill Vacancies at MTA. Travel and Tourism Operators express their thanks to Mr Josef Formosa Gauci, the outgoing CEO at MTA for his sterling contribution to the industry during his tenure as CEO of MTA. Under his direction, the MTA team succeeded in delivering five record years including the...

Tourist arrivals in hotels increased in May but the number of bednights was down, official figures issued today show. The NSO said that arrivals and nights in collective accommodation establishments during May stood at 124,778 and 659,892 respectively. The average length of stay was estimated at 5.3 nights. Foreign arrivals were estimated at 116,142, an...