Malta has been practicing tough entry rules since Wednesday, which mean that beach holidays will literally fall into the water for unvaccinated tourists. The Mediterranean state requires those tested and recovered to be quarantined for two weeks, which must be spent in special hotels. For this, an impressive 1.400 euros - excluding food and drink - are due.

The sum must be paid on the spot in advance. You are not allowed to leave the hotel room during isolation. In addition, a PCR test must be carried out at your own expense shortly before the end of the quarantine. If this turns out negative, you can leave the "hotel jail". An additional 120 euros are due for the test. In the best case, you can get out without food for 1.520 euros. The sum and the long segregation is likely to mean that many travelers will cancel their vacations.

While individual travelers who have booked their flights and hotels themselves are dependent on the goodwill of the airlines and hotels, package travelers can withdraw from the contract with their tour operator, as the implementation of the booked trip has become unreasonable. This is particularly because Malta has advertised the convalescent, vaccinated and tested people with grandiose holidays, but only allows those who have been completely vaccinated to enter after just a few days.

Complete vaccination protection necessary

According to the Ministry of Tourism, all vaccinations that are accepted in the European Union are recognized. For all vaccines, the doses specified by the manufacturer must have been administered. Then at least 14 days must have passed. With Moderna, for example, this means that two weeks after the second dose you can enter Malta without quarantine. In the case of Johnson & Johnson, this is after the only vaccination scheduled.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, proof must be provided by the EU vaccination certificate. Furthermore, an agreement is maintained with the United Kingdom, for example, so that their certificates are also recognized. Regarding the quarantine for vaccinated people, Malta has introduced a new card. This only knows the colors red and dark red. Vaccinated persons can enter from red countries without being segregated, from dark red countries they also go to hotel quarantine.

First airlines refuse unvaccinated boarding

There is great uncertainty among airlines due to the new regulations, as there are initial reports that some airlines are said to have refused boarding to unvaccinated passengers. According to the Times of Malta, there was a curious case in Poland that vaccinated parents were allowed to board but their underage children were not. Ultimately, the family stayed at home because they didn't want to leave their children behind at the gate.

Malta has not issued an explicit instruction that people who are not vaccinated against Covid-19 are no longer allowed to board a plane. However, airlines seem concerned that passengers could take recourse to the carrier for the high quarantine costs. In the meantime, the quarantine hotel is said to be on the verge of overcrowding, so the government is using a second accommodation.