FELTOM welcomes PN’s measures to support families hosting language students

FELTOM welcomes the Nationalist Party’s proposal to introduce tax exemptions for families hosting foreign students, together with National Insurance credits for parents who temporarily step away from work to support hosting responsibilities.

These measures acknowledge the essential contribution that Maltese host families make to the English Language Teaching (ELT) sector, the Federation of English Language Teahcing Organisations said. 

“FELTOM supports all initiatives that empower families who open their homes to international learners, not simply as accommodation providers, but as cultural ambassadors who help shape a student’s entire experience of Malta.”

At the same time, FELTOM believes it is important to clearly differentiate between families who host students and those who operate short let models such as Airbnb. While both have value within Malta’s tourism landscape, they serve very different purposes.

Student-host families provide “stability, guidance, cultural immersion, and a sense of belonging”, elements that are central to attracting quality learners who stay longer, integrate more deeply, and contribute meaningfully to the local community.

“We are listening to all approaches and perspectives,” said Jessica ReesJones, CEO of FELTOM.

“But it is vital that incentives are directed toward genuine host families who support students’ educational journeys. Hosting a learner is not the same as offering a short-term rental. It is a relationship built on care, connection, and cultural exchange and it is this experience that sets Malta apart.”

Recent NSO data shows that the number of student weeks spent on the island in 2025 increased by 5,387 compared to 2024. This reflects a growing shift toward longer stays and more meaningful, experiencedriven learning. 

“Strengthening the host family model directly supports this trend, helping Malta attract higher value learners who seek authentic engagement rather than transactional accommodation,” adds Ms Rees-Jones.

“Malta can reinforce its position as a leading ELT destination by expanding and incentivising the host family network. A strong host family ecosystem enhances student satisfaction, deepens integration into local communities, and creates lasting memories that students carry with them long after they leave the island.”

“This proposal reflects ongoing collaboration between policymakers and industry stakeholders. As FELTOM, we remain committed to working with all partners to ensure Malta continues to evolve in line with international trends and maintains a sustainable, high quality ELT sector.”

Malta remains a stronghold for English language students, with the mature student market segment (25+) seeing a particular rise.

“Volume is necessary to sustain the industry, but not volume at the expense of quality. And I think that’s the tipping point. Each of our schools has a different value proposition. Some of them are in historical buildings. Some of them offer a focus on families and have swimming pools on site. They have a niche feature. And that’s where the strengths of FELTOM schools are,” the CEO told BusinessNow.mt this week.