Due to its convenient geographical location, unique sites with excellent infrastructure and more than 300 days of sunshine a year, Malta offers ideal conditions for the event tourism industry, the so-called MICE sector (Meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions). To promote this sector and carry out more post-pandemic events in Malta in 2021 and 2022, Malta Tourism Authority will provide assistance to the MICE sector totaling 4 million euros.
The new targeted MICE industry support program creates financial incentives for organizers of various events in Malta and / or Gozo with a grant of up to € 150 (including VAT) per participant.
The goal of the program is to help the MICE industry in Malta and Gozo achieve a long-term and sustainable recovery in 2021 and 2022. As such, the Malta Tourism Authority is committed to providing strong support to the industry: organizers who demonstrably spend at least € 800 (including VAT) per participant in the Maltese Islands will receive a grant of € 150 (VAT included) per foreign participant. Organizers who spend at least € 600 (including VAT) for each invitee in Malta are eligible for a grant of € 75 (VAT included) per person. These costs may include hotel accommodation, ground transportation, meals, excursions, team building, event management and logistics and must be documented on a per-event basis. International flights or other means of transportation to and from the Maltese Islands cannot be included in total costs.
Another project aimed at supporting and developing tourism in Malta was recently announced by the Minister of Tourism of Malta, Clayton Bartolo. Authorities will pay foreign travelers up to € 200 ($ 240) if they spend more than two nights in the country. Visitors staying at a four-star hotel will receive 150 euros ($ 180), while guests staying at a three-star hotel will receive 100 euros ($ 120). And those who make a trip to Gozo, an island near Malta, will receive 10% more.
In addition, tourists coming to Malta for scuba diving will receive a 100 Euro voucher. The organizers of the sporting events will also receive a grant of 100 euros for each foreign participant.
Through subsidies, the government is trying to encourage people to visit the island, where 27% of the income comes from tourism. The initiative will be partly funded by hotels and partly by the state. Malta plans to open borders on June 1 to anyone who can prove they have received a full vaccination at least ten days prior to arrival.