WATCH: €100 vouchers for tourists visiting Malta to dive, take part in sporting events

Two new aid schemes have been announced in a bid to attract tourists to Malta this summer.

Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo made the announcement on Friday, where he revealed that €100 vouchers would be made available to international tourists visiting the island to dive, and athletes visiting the country to take part of a sporting event.

Malta has been an attractive destination for divers for some time. In a bid to boost the sector, Minister Bartolo said €750,000 is being allocated for €100 vouchers to be given to international tourists, to be used at Malta and Gozo’s diving centres/schools.

He said the scheme will give a direct boost to diving centres, and that the allocation of funding will leave a general impact on Malta’s economy to the tune of €12 million, €3 million of which will go to Gozo directly.

Interested parties are urged to visit the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) website to apply, after which the vouchers will be sent out via email.

With regards to sporting events, the Minister said that a scheme is being allocated €1.5 million, whereby €100 vouchers will be given to foreign athletes visiting Malta or Gozo for sporting events being organised.

This benefit will be passed on to organisers of sporting events, who are urged to apply through the MTA website. All sportive disciplines accredited with Sports Malta are eligible for the scheme.

Minister Bartolo said such aid measures contribute to the Government’s goal of seeking out sustainable tourism, that go beyond seasonality, and help to strike a balance between quality and quantity.

Malta plans to open up to international tourists from 1st June.