Latest News

May 10, 2021

MHRA Express Relief for the Re-Opening of Restaurants

Added: 10 May 2021   The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) expresses relief for the re-opening today of restaurants, a cornerstone of the tourism sector and a critical facility for hotel operations.   MHRA Restaurants’ Council Representatives Isabella Debattista, Rosie Grech, Claudienne Harb and Richard Cleland state that, “Today is an important step towards kick starting the economy and protecting people’s livelihoods in this sector. Our businesses have suffered terribly and now deserve to succeed having been extremely responsible and patient during this difficult time.” The re-opening of restaurants is a major relief also for hotels which so far […]
May 6, 2021

Further COVID Reopening Plans Revealed

Added: 6 May 2021 The Government has unveiled further re-opening stages for restaurants and snack bars in a press conference addressed today by Health Minister Chris Fearne and Public Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci. The target dates for lifting further restrictions are: From May 24 Restaurants and snack bars allowed to open until midnight From June 7 Restaurants can allow six people per table (up from four) See full press conference here:  https://www.facebook.com/MaltaGov/videos/503800197651226 You can share your thoughts and opinions by leaving a comment in our discussion box below.
May 6, 2021

Inbound Tourism Down by 86% in March 2021

Added: 6 May 2021   Total inbound visitors for March 2021 were estimated at 10,291, a decrease of 86.3 per cent when compared to the corresponding month in 2020.   During the month under review, a total of 6,538 inbound tourists visited Malta for holiday purposes, followed by 2,705 tourists for business purposes. Most inbound tourists were aged between 25 and 44 years (48.9 per cent), followed by those within the 45-64 age bracket (27.0 per cent). A general increase in the average length of stay was recorded (Table 1).   Total nights spent went down by 65.2 per cent […]
May 6, 2021

Malta International Airport holds its 29th Annual General Meeting

Added: 5 May 2021   A decade of solid results equipped Malta Airport with resilience to withstand the shocks of the crisis; 2021 off to a slow start with year-to-date traffic totalling 137,887 passenger movements; Strategic investments & restoring the island’s connectivity will be prioritised as the company focuses on its recovery   Malta International Airport today held its twenty-ninth Annual General Meeting remotely, during which the company’s performance for the year ended 31 December 2020 as well as year-to-date traffic results were presented.   In his opening address, Malta International Airport Chairman Mr Nikolaus Gretzmacher said that while nothing […]
April 30, 2021

Air Malta Launches its Summer 2021 Flight Schedule

Added: 30 April 2021 Air Malta Launches its Summer 2021 Flight Schedule • 20destinations • Over 3,000 flights • 580,000 seats NOW on sale Air Malta has today launched its summer flight schedule with a planned operation to 20 cities. During the six–month program (covering May till October 2021), the Airline is committed to operate 3,012 flights and will offer for sale over half a million seats. Commenting on this plan, Air Malta’s Chief Commercial Officer Roy Kinnear stated, “This schedule delivers a strong message of commitment by the Airline towards the local and international tourism industry. The schedule focuses […]
April 28, 2021

Tourism License Fees Waived for 2021

Added: 28 April 2021 Around 10,000 operators in the tourism industry will not have to pay licenses and fees due to the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) in 2021, Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo said in a press conference today. The Minister said the scheme is one of a number of measures introduced by the government to support the industry as the country prepares to open its doors to tourists again from 1 June. Bartolo said that the 10,000 or so operators and businesses in the tourism industry will be saving €4 million that would have otherwise been due to the MTA. […]
April 28, 2021

Cruise Passengers: Official figures for Q1/2021

Added: 28 April 2021 Total cruise passenger traffic during the first quarter of 2021 amounted to 7,966 passengers, a decrease of 80.2 per cent over the corresponding period in 2020. During the first quarter of 2021, there were 9 cruise liner calls in Malta, the same number as in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Transit passengers accounted for the absolute majority of total traffic, reaching 7,963 passengers. On average, every vessel that berthed in Malta carried 885 passengers, 3,579 less than the previous year (Table 1). EU nationals comprised the largest share of total cruise passengers during the […]
April 25, 2021

Limited reopening of Restaurants and Bars on May 10

Added: 25 April 2021 Restaurants and snack bars will reopen on Monday 10th May, with a restricted opening time of up to 5pm. After this time, only take-away or delivery orders can be handled. This was announced by Prime Minister Robert Abela said at a press conference today Sunday 25th April.  In another exercise to boost the economy, Government will also be issuing a second batch of consumer vouchers in the coming weeks.   See full press conference here: https://www.facebook.com/MaltaGov/videos/170298561629290   Reaction from the Association of Catering Establishments (ACE):   ACE welcomes first step to full opening and issuance of […]
April 24, 2021

GBTA poll finds positive momentum for Business Travel

  Nine percent of poll respondents say their company already has resumed nonessential business travel. Source: hotelmanagement.net; Photo credit: andresr/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images   Added: 26 April 2021 The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) has issued the findings from its 18th COVID-19 poll assessing the impact of the pandemic and the road to recovery for the business travel industry.   Nearly a quarter of poll respondents report that their company has resumed nonessential business travel, or that the company has in place a plan to resume travel. This latest poll shows multiple positive signs for business travel recovery, including an […]
April 24, 2021

MHRA calls for Hospitality Employees Vaccination

    Added: 25 April 2021 Re-open restaurants on Monday 26 April. Vaccinate all hospitality employees before 1 June.   The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) is urging the Government to reopen restaurants including restaurants in hotels that are not even permitted to serve breakfast, on Monday 26th April – same as non-essential shops.   Restaurants have been amongst the worst economic victims of the COVID-19 pandemic and after a very long tough year the MHRA is asking for the reopening of the restaurants on the 26 April and the tourism market on 1st June 2021.   The association […]