Introducing the new Malta Tourism Awards: Celebrating Excellence in Hospitality

The Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) launched the prestigious Malta Tourism Awards during the grand annual STAR Awards event that took place on the 25th of April 2024.

The ceremony commemorated how the STAR Awards have for two decades served as a medium to identify outstanding employees in the tourism industry, highlighting their resilience and their commitment to deliver a continuous high-quality service to tourists that have visited the Maltese Islands. The constant evolution of the tourism industry is now highlighting the need for a new Tourism Awards scheme.

The novel Malta Tourism Awards initiative shall seek to recognise and celebrate excellence and achievements in the tourism industry focusing on praising sustainable investments which are a cornerstone of Malta's successful economy longevity.


Honouring the Best in Tourism
The Malta Tourism Awards will acknowledge the exceptional contributions of individuals, businesses, and organisations that are significantly enhancing the touristic offer and visitor experience on the islands. With two specific categories, Responsible Tourism Development Award and Tourism Worker of the Year Award, the awards will cover a comprehensive spectrum of the industry.


Responsible Tourism Development Award
The Responsible Tourism Development Award will recognise the leading stakeholders that offer an outstanding tourism product through significant investments to assure a resilient future for the local tourism industry.

The MTA encourages responsible investment initiatives which address key objectives as per the National Tourism Strategy 2021-2030, being smart tourism and digitalisation, human resources training and upskilling, and sustainability and decarbonisation. Nominations can be submitted for best accommodation, best travel and tourism, best visitor attraction or best catering establishment.


Tourism Worker of the Year Award
The Tourism Worker of the Year Award will recognise employees who offer an outstanding service in either the accommodation sector; the catering sector; travel and tourism services, such as incoming travel agencies, destination management companies, excursion organisers and tourist guides; in visitor attractions; diving centres; and in English language learning schools or even host families

The nominations for this award are based on the employees’ outstanding performance which goes beyond the required call of duty at their place of work.


The Minister for Tourism and Public Cleanliness, Hon Clayton Bartolo, emphasised the importance of recognizing and rewarding excellence in tourism. "The Malta Tourism Awards are not just about celebrating success; they are about inspiring the industry to reach new heights. Tourism Award winners exemplify the best of what Malta has to offer, and they set the standard for others to follow."

Mr Carlo Micallef, CEO of the Malta Tourism Authority, highlighted the critical role of innovation and sustainability in the future of tourism. "As we look ahead, it's essential that we continue to evolve and adapt. The initiatives and achievements that are being recognised demonstrate our commitment to a sustainable and innovative future."

The Malta Tourism Awards aim to become a staple event in the industry calendar, with plans to expand the categories and introduce public voting in future editions. As the local tourism industry grows, the awards will reflect the dynamic role of the industry by encouraging stakeholders for excellence and innovation.

The launch of the Malta Tourism Awards will ensure that Malta remains competitive and attractive to visitors from around the world. More information on these awards can be accessed on the Malta Tourism Observatory website. Terms & Conditions are available on https://www.mtobservatory.org/awards/terms-and-conditions.

Submissions are open till 31st December 2024. For guidance on the submission of nominations, please contact 22915000 to set an appointment with the Industry HR Unit at the Malta Tourism Authority.