The Malta International Airport (MIA), the Malta Entertainment Industry and Arts Association (MEIA), and the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) have all welcomed the reduction in Covid-19 restrictions announced on Monday, and have called for all remaining measures to be removed.
In their statement, the MEIA said that mass rallies during the electoral campaign had exposed the “two weights, two measures” way in which event regulations were drafted, and said that all restrictions should be removed on indoor events as well.
They also criticised the MUMN for their reaction to the announcement, questioning the timing of this reaction “a day after a month of daily mass gatherings.”
The MUMN earlier on Monday warned that some 150 Covid-19 patients were receiving treatment at Mater Dei, with the hospital on the verge of breaking point as a result.
However, the MEIA insisted that the country “needs to get back to normality.”
“The daily Covid scaremongering needs to stop once and for all,” the association said.
The Malta International Airport meanwhile welcomed the government’s announcement in relation to PCR tests and recovery certificates as the first step towards the complete removal of travel restrictions.
The MIA welcomed the government’s announcement that persons travelling from a red country will be allowed entry into Malta with a negative PCR test or a recovery certificate as of next week, as the first step towards the complete lifting of the country’s COVID-19 restrictions on travel.
In principle, all persons wishing to travel to our islands from one of more than 100 countries on Malta’s red list, can now do so regardless of their vaccination status, the MIA pointed out.
“However, it is worth highlighting that PCR tests are an inconvenience (as well as an added cost, which can run into hundreds of euro for a travelling family) which can prompt potential visitors to choose another destination for their summer holiday,” the airport said.
This is particularly the case, it said, given that a number of European countries, including Switzerland, the Netherlands, Ireland and the United Kingdom, have recently completely removed all restrictions on travel.
Now that peak holiday season is only months away, the MIA appealed to the government to give visibility - to both the industry and potential visitors - of when the remaining COVID-19 travel restrictions, including the red and dark red colour system, will be completely removed.
In their own statement meanwhile, the MHRA welcomed the removal of measures, but said that not enough clear information was presented to better understand how the tourism stakeholders need to react in relation to this policy statement.
Accordingly, MHRA said that it has already called for and is again calling for the removal of all remaining COVID restrictions, including all testing requirements, the need to present proof of vaccination, or to complete a Passenger Locator Form (PLF). The removal of all COVID restrictions is already in place by a growing number of countries across Europe and beyond.
MHRA said it is also calling for the removal of extraordinary protocols which were introduced across hotels and restaurants during the peak times of COVID 19 transmission months ago. These restrictions, such those related to buffet and bar service, are directly impacting negatively operations, leading to gross inefficiencies and difficulties and compounded with the issue of lack of available staff to work in our sector.
At this point MHRA expressed its belief that emphasis must be made on the role of self-responsibility in keeping our society healthy. This is also in line with what the World Health Organisation is now stating, that COVID 19 is becoming a less harmful force and that the resilience of the vaccine remains strong.