The subsidy scheme for accommodation facilities and restaurants has been extended to include self-catering premises. This means any accommodation licensed by the Malta Tourism Authority as holiday premises or farmhouses will now be entitled to a share of the €3 million allocated to the scheme.
The scheme subsidises a percentage of the interest rate on loans sourced by banks for refurbishment and extension projects and is spread over 10 years. The call is open until funds are exhausted.
The Gozo Tourism Association hailed this change as a step in the right direction. It said the scheme was of particular interest to Gozo, where the number of beds available through self-catering premises, consisting mainly of renovated farmhouses and houses of character, exceeded the number of beds available in hotels and guesthouses on the island.