Free flights to Malta? Sounds like a joke at first. But this measure is openly discussed in the island state.

The tourism industry in particular is suffering from the severe consequences of the Covid 19 crisis. All measures to contain the pandemic are mostly at the expense of hoteliers and restaurateurs. Tony Zahra, President of the Maltese Hotel and Restaurant Association, is now bringing free flights into play, according to the Times of Malta newspaper. “Ultimately, we have to ask ourselves how do we get people to travel to Malta,” said Zahra. The government has already done a lot to keep the industry afloat. But more is needed to survive in the long term. "The long-term solution is to generate revenue from arrivals," he added.