MHRA forecasts a steady recovery this summer for the tourism sector
The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) welcomes the news that Malta has been added to the UK’s green list.
MHRA President Tony Zahra states that, “This is an important development for the recovery of the Maltese tourism sector this year. UK is a very important source market for Malta and therefore it is expected that this news will lead to a resumption in bookings from the UK in the coming weeks.”
Zahra states that this development is a well-deserved result for all the coordinated efforts spearhead by all stakeholders including Government, health authorities, investors, employers, operators, employees, and the very much appreciated cooperation of the general public.
MHRA commends the efforts spearheaded by Government in managing to create the right balance between the economy and the health and well-being of all. This indeed is a success story. But the challenges are not yet over. MHRA appeals to all involved not to let their guards down, whilst the relaxation of certain protocols by the health authorities is now important in order to ensure that hospitality operations are run smoothly and hence service excellence is ensured.
Furthermore, MHRA appeals to the relevant authorities to adopt policies which fast track the recruitment of foreign workers to sustain the operations of our Hotels and Restaurants. Mr Zahra states that, “we are now seeing light at the end of the tunnel, therefore now it’s time to work harder to rekindle a tourism sector, which today more than ever before, is critical for our general economy and the well-being of our people.”
The Malta Chamber welcomes the UK’s decision to add Malta to its quarantine-free green list
The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry welcomed the UK’s decision to add Malta to its quarantine-free green list thanks to the collective efforts in keeping a very low COVID-19 case rate.
The Tourism Business Section within the Malta Chamber notes with satisfaction that Malta has been added to the UK’s green list for travel as from this Wednesday 30th June, meaning that vaccinated travelers from the UK will be able to visit the Maltese islands without the requirement of quarantine on their return to the UK.
“This is a significant development as the British market is Malta’s largest tourism market and the UK’s decision confirms the remarkable progress in controlling the spread of COVID-19 in Malta,” said the Head of The Malta Chamber Tourism Section, Alan Arrigo. He added that strict observance of health protocols remains critical to continue succeeding against COVID-19.
In their latest update, the UK authorities added Madeira, the Balearic Islands, several UK Overseas Territories and Caribbean Islands to the green list. All territories but Malta are on the green watchlist and at a risk of turning amber. Almost all other EU countries remain on the UK’s amber list meaning travelers returning to the UK must self-isolate for 10 days and take two PCR tests.
The Malta Chamber welcomed the Government’s decision to allow only vaccinated travellers in Malta from the UK and re-iterates its call on the authorities to ensure strict restrictions at the points of entry, especially at the airport, so the tourism industry continues to recover in a safe way without compromising the recent efforts.