Updated: Tourist arrivals slump by 10.6% in February

John Matthews

Mar 31st 2009, 16:13

@F Borg
You obviously have a lot more money than I do. Perhaps if you went abroad on several occasions during the course of the year, whether it be business or pleasure, and, other countries put on this ludicrous tax, it may curtail your travel too.

F Borg

Mar 30th 2009, 19:19

I repeat what I said earlier: a tourist who cannot afford a miserable 50-cent marketing contribution for every night spent in Malta is not worth having on the islands. They should go to somehere in Africa or the like. Costs in Malta are increasing. Our inflation rate is the highest in the eurozone and has been so for a very long time. We need to target a different non-price sensitive segment, and not the segment where an extra miserable 50-cent charge puts off the would-be tourist. I back the government 100% on this measure. Competitor destiantions such as Mallorca have had similar heftier mandatory contributions since time immemorial, including a contribution that goes towards repairing vandalism and environmental damage caused by tourists. We should consider introducing a contribution of at least 1€ per night on each student that comes here. Many of these so called students cause more than their fair share of problems. We need to start living in a modern 21st century European country.

John Matthews

Mar 30th 2009, 16:13

@ Lee Micallef I couldn't agree more with your statement. When the first of these articles appeared last week I also commented on this. I again state. What about people who come for a long time, i.e From Canada, Australia etc. Due to the expense, air fares, taxes together with the time span due to distance involved this will put quite a considerable extra charge on their holiday. I come to Malta every year for one month at a time, this will add 30euros for my wife and I, just to come to Malta to visit family. We will now have to consider a shorter visit, not to the extra cost but the principle of the matter. It will be the loss of the government in taxes on revenue that will NOT be spent in the shops etc. I hope this will be thrown out before it gets started. Plus, no doubt, this extra tax will be collected by the airline, another FREE tax collector just like VAT.

Joe Galea

Mar 30th 2009, 15:55

In February only, spending on accommodation rose by 23.9%. This statement shows that lodging in Malta is becoming more expensive since less tourist came and spending on accomodation increased. So hoteliers and other collective accomodation owners, should smell the coffee and start doing as other countries like Greece & Spain which decided to lower their accomodation rates. Should we expect worse the coming months?

Lee Micallef

Mar 30th 2009, 13:08

They will probably decrease further when the 50c per night ' tourist' charge starts in 2010 . There's nothing like flogging the horse when its near death's door !!

oliver grech

Mar 30th 2009, 12:36

the increase from the Italian market was a series of horrible student groups coming over with not even a euro to spend. Residents of Swieqi hardest hit by these poor noisy so called students!!!

freddie vella

Mar 30th 2009, 11:43

The credit situation in the entertainment and tourism sector was already in a stellar condition, now I just don't want to think what the situation will be like with the new results. Scary indeed.