The challenges for the tourism sector are not yet over, however the fact that tourism is a resilient economic sector allows for optimistic forecasts to be made, stated Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association President Tony Zahra on Thursday. 

Refering to a survey carried out in collaboration with Deloitte and BOV,  Zahra said that although the results shown are encouraging it is critical not to take such forecasts as a guaranteed result. 

The survey showed how after three challenging quarters, the fourth one was encouraging for the tourism sector in 2021, as it reached 62% of tourist arrivals in the same quarter for 2019, thanks to the gradual international relaxation in Covid-19 travel restrictions. 

Despite this positive quarter, there was only a total of 35% of the tourist level reached in 2019 overall when compared, as a result of the disruption in the first three quarters of 2021. 

The subdued level of arrivals in 2021 still surpassed 2020 levels by 46.9%, the survey showed. 

There was also a general increase in the average of length of stays, as tourists chose to spend more nights in Malta: in the fourth quarter of 2021 it reached 74% of past 2019 levels.

In a press release, the MHRA called for the immediate removal of remaining Covid-19 restricitng as it is critical for Malta to remain as competitive as possible as a tourist destination. 

Zahra also recognised the efforts made by the government and MHRA members to keep the tourism industry going during the pandemic and he said that present synergy “needs to remain to overcome the highly challenging months ahead for a sustainable recovery.” 

In 2021 the Ministry for Tourism together with the Malta Tourism Authority in collaboration with MHRA and other stakeholders launched the STAR JOURNEY, which is an initiative aimed to set Malta and Gozo in-partnership with Forbes Travel Guide Destination. 

Minister for Tourism Clayton Bartolo announced that 50% of hotels across Malta and Gozo, have been recognised as Sharecare Verified by Forbes Travel Guide properties, over the past five months. This automatically puts Malta as a travel destination which is fully commited to the health and safety of guests and employees as recognised by Forbes Travel Guide. 

The Malta Tourism Authority  will now be allowed to use the Digital Health Security VERIFIED logo, which is a first of its kind in the world. 

This outcome is in line with the objective of further removing Covid-19 restrictions, whilst still ensuring the safety of guests and employees through industry self-regulated management practices.