Huge turnout outside of Parliament as mobile units administer vaccines

Jul 27 2021

Images surfacing online show huge lines of people awaiting to receive their free COVID-19 vaccination outside parliament. The parliament, which just his weekend was circled by anti-vaxx protestors, is now met with what seem to be hundreds of people waiting to receive their jab.

Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne posted to Facebook commending the great turnout at the walk-in vaccination clinic. Concerns were raised however as to the apparent lack of social distancing, despite the people being there to receive the jab for immunisation.

Chairman of the Valletta Cultural Agency commented on the situation, took to Facebook to comment in the situation, rhetorically asking whether deciding to vaccinate this large amount of people in the Maltese capital city’s main entrances during tourism’s peak season.

He asks whether finding a different location would have eased the confusion in the capital’s entrance as people flock to receive the jab.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: Jason Micallef FB, Chris Fearne FB

Second quarantine hotel in Sliema for unvaccinated tourists

Jul 27 2021

The three-star Sliema Hotel on the seafront has been established by the Malta Tourism Authority as the second quarantine hotel. This follows a call to locate the second abode for quarantined tourists arriving in malta after the Marina Hotel in St George’s Bay was approaching full capacity during the early periods of this month. Run by ST Hotels, the second quarantine is said to provide 70 rooms, with anyone arriving in Malta without an approved vaccine certificate or is unvaccinated will be charged at least €1,400 per room for the 14-days stay.

The accommodation fee does not include food, drink or any other service. Anyone who does not complete the mandatory quarantine period faces a fine which can amount up to €10,000. With government easing the ban on unvaccinated travellers, Maltese residents entering the country without a vaccine certificate must apply for permission to avoid receiving the hefty bill. Under-12s, and those with medical reasons for not being vaccinated, will be allowed to travel using PCR tests taken up to 72 hours before arrival.

Despite seemingly reaching full capacity earlier this month, number of guests at the Corinthia Marina Hotel started to drop as on Monday morning there were 116 recorded occupied rooms out of the hotel’s 200. Hotels with a central location is allegedly preferred, with the property licensed, up to date with arrears and no pending enforcement issues.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: Trip Advisor

650,000 tourists made their way to Malta in 2020

Jul 27 2021

In 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the total of inbound and domestic tourists making their way to the Malta region amounted to 649,878. A total of inbound tourists amounted for 98.2% of total tourists visiting the region, whereas 388,213 tourists visited the Gozo and Comino region. The statistics revealed by the National Statistics Office show how domestic tourists accounted for 89.8% of total tourism demand within the region.

Domestic tourism consists of activities or resident visitors within the country – meaning Maltese residents visiting Gozo and Comino or vice versa. The tourist must stay for less than 12 consecutive months for personal, business or other purposes. Inbound tourism, conversely, focuses on non-resident visitor activities as they come to the country. Inbound tourists in the country decreased by 76.1% in 2020, totalling 658,567. Despite the total nights spent by in bounds tourists in the country surpassing a whopping 5.2 million, this is a 73% decrease over 2019.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: USNews.com

Two third increase in Maltese holidaying in Gozo during pandemic

Jul 27 2021

2020 saw a significant increase of two thirds over 2019 of Maltese holidaying in Gozo, mostly due to COVID-19 restrictions. The National Statistics Office indicated a 62% rise in holidaymakers from Malta making their way to Gozo as travel to foreign countries proved too risky.

The same could not be said however for Gozitans holidaying in Malta. There was in fact a year-on-year drop of 46% of Gozitan tourists coming for staycations in Malta. With the pandemic forcing the closure of global ports, non-essential travel between the two islands was prohibited between April 3rd and May 4th.

Foreign tourism experienced a 76.1% drop from the previous year, with Maltese preferring to limit their travel between Gozo and Comino. Maltese residents travelling to Gozo and Comino stood at 348,489 (96.7% of total domestic tourists) in 2020. Most spent between one and three nights (80.6%) with average length increasing from 2.6 to 3 nights compared to 2019.

#MaltaDaily

Photo Source: Hotels.com