All accommodation and catering taxes due for 2020 and 2021 would be paid over a period of 5 years (2022-2027) under a PN Government, the PN said as it announced its tourism strategy today.
The PN launched a 10-year plan titled ‘2+8’, signalling a short to medium term vision for the first two years of post-covid recovery for the tourism sector, as well as a long term plan for the next 10 years. Tourism involves around 50% of the population.
“Today is another beautiful day for the PN and Malta. What we present today is a document in which we are showing that the PN is alive, it has ideas, it listens, and it has a vision,” Opposition and PN leader Bernard Grech said.
Grech remarked that the PN “believes in our country, in the Maltese population, and our products”, as showcased with these proposals, he said. “We are so proud that we are ready to share it with other countries.”
The Opposition leader also addressed that these proposals “were consulted with all stakeholders and need to be implemented with all of them”.
“The PN doesn’t believe in the touristic product as something dead, but rather something alive.”
PN Deputy Leader and tourism shadow speaker Robert Arrigo that these proposals show that the PN is alive and is giving long term plans rather than “vague statements”.
“In January, the government came out with a vague idea about tourism; we have a working document. We have over 100 proposals which we would like the government to scrutinise,” Arrigo said.
“We studied for weeks to propose this vision; we tried and I think we left nobody out,” he remarked.
Arrigo said that these next couple of years will be “crucial”, and that this document of proposals shows that “the PN is taking the tourism industry seriously.”
Marketing
One of the things the PN proposed is that Malta would be promoted as a safe destination. This would be done by hard marketing Malta’s vaccination progress, international 3rd party certification of Malta as a safe travel destination, and by providing testing centres for free for tourists; two in Malta and one in Gozo, amongst other things.
The PN also proposed new niche markets, where Malta would rethink the markets to attract and ensure they are directly addressed. Co-marketing, specific target audience and experience marketing are also proposed.
Connectivity
Proposals on connectivity suggest that the country should regain all lost airline carriers, routes and frequencies, offer more incentives to guarantee routes and their frequency, and cooperation of all stakeholders.
These would also look at potential new source airports, route planning, the reviving of Air Malta, and promotion of ferries as a form of travelling.
Accommodation and catering
One of the highlights of the PN's document is that all taxes due for 2020 and 2021 would be paid over a period of 5 years (2022-2027).
This will take into consideration the revival of bookings in hotels, the promotion of hostels, the regulation and classification of serviced apartments and villas, the creation of organised camping sites with amenities, and tax schemes to reduce VAT to 7% for restaurants and bars.
Infrastructure
In terms of infrastructure, the PN proposed a country-wide free WIFI access, beefing up of more cleanliness in general, traffic planning, construction works in tourism zones to be coordinated to reduce disruption, and incentive schemes to support digitalization of the tourism trade.
The PN said that it would promote trekking, walking and biking, rethinking of the transport system, revamping of the accommodation classification system through the Malta Tourism Authority, the promotion of diving, address the lack of marine reserves, promote human capital and English language tourism, and promotion of tourism services, among other proposals.
Attractions and activities
These proposals include the promotion and upkeep of non-mainstream attractions and cultural heritages through NGOs, the digitisation of museums, interactivity in such touristic sites, more specialisation for guides, and the creation of pre-defined programmes for self drive.
Urban Planning
The PN is also suggesting the regeneration of urban areas, consistency and sustainability in building standards to respect the cityscape, more accessibility to and from Gozo through the creation of a tunnel, heliport and frequent ferries, and the creation of an Accommodation Infrastructure Plan in the south of Malta.
Events
Regarding events, the PN is proposing that the country should widen the Events Portfolio within the Malta Tourism Authority in order to attract more and diverse segments, from music to sports to cultural events.
These would also include the intensifying efforts to attract international niche tournaments, agricultural events, the creation of an international food festival, and the promotion of music and the arts.