The Federation of English Language Teaching Organisations Malta (FELTOM) strongly objects to the government's decision to triple the eco-contribution from €0.50 to €1.50 per tourist per night, as announced in the 2026 Budget.
Introduced without consultation, this measure risks serious harm to the English Language Teaching (ELT) sector, the broader tourism economy, and Malta's reputation as a quality destination for educational travel, Feltom said Wednesday.
The tax will apply to all students aged 18 and over, a fast-growing segment within FELTOM-accredited schools that represents long-stay, quality-focused learners rather than short-term summer visitors. These students contribute substantially to accommodation, local commerce, and cultural engagement. Penalising them undermines one of Malta's most sustainable tourism niches.
For 35 years, FELTOM schools have upheld rigorous standards in education, safeguarding, and accommodation, welcoming tens of thousands of students annually and sustaining thousands of jobs.
The ELT sector is highly price-sensitive, and a threefold increase in costs will make Malta less competitive against other study destinations, reducing both length of stay and overall spending.
Feltom said the increase was imposed without consultation with stakeholders, and it disproportionately impacts 18+ long-stay students who already contribute more economically and socially than short-stay tourists.
It also risks reversing recent recovery and growth trends within the ELT sector while ignoring the sector's sensitivity to even minor price shifts.
The eco-tax revenue should be transparently reinvested in the localities where it is collected, improving sustainability and community outcomes, Feltom said.
It called on the government to explain the policy rationale and data supporting the increase and demonstrate how the additional revenue will directly benefit tourism and education quality.
The government should also suspend implementation for accredited educational visitors pending impact assessment and stakeholder consultation and establish an urgent roundtable with FELTOM, the Malta Tourism Authority, and related sectors to design a fair, evidence-based approach.