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The Maltese Ministry of Tourism expects a total of 2021 airlines to fly to the only civil airport in the country, Luqa, in the summer of 18. Malta, Gozo and Comino are expected to receive tourists again on a large scale from June 1, 2021. The previous season was extremely weak due to the pandemic.
“This summer, 18 airlines will fly to Malta, and four of them are new operators. Airlines are the lifelines of the tourism sector and they must not be forgotten, ”explains Maltese Foreign Minister Evarist Bartolo. The member of the government also pointed out that from June 2021 around 70 percent of the routes that were offered in 2019 should be restored.
Four of these airlines are new, and the Tourism Authority is currently in talks with another four airlines that are seriously interested in adding routes to Malta. In addition to the aircraft, cruise ships will also resume service this summer. At least 34 port approaches are planned by the end of June.
Malta is hoping for the Green Pass
The Maltese government is currently in talks with the European Commission, and is hoping for the approval of “green” passports for vaccinated people, with which guests could travel within Malta without restrictions. The plan outlined by Minister Bartolo is that vaccinated tourists can visit Malta without restrictions by presenting a digital “green passport” upon arrival, while non-vaccinated tourists are required to present a negative PCR COVID-19 test result, which some Hours before their arrival.
In recent years, the Maltese islands have been extremely overcrowded in the summer months. The year 2019 was a big exception due to the pandemic, because there was a yawning emptiness on the few beaches. Flight tickets and hotel rooms were sold at dumping prices, but this did not significantly boost demand. While there were a few tourists on the main island (Malta), mostly from Germany, Austria and France, Gozo was literally dead.
The island of Comino is very crowded in the summer months as many boat owners offer tours. The only accommodation facility, Comino Hotel, was closed last year and will not open this year either. The reason for this is not at all in the pandemic. The house is getting on in years and has been demolished. The new construction is currently under construction and should be opened in summer 2022. The sandy beach of Santa Maria Bay can be reached on foot or by boat and, in the absence of hotel guests, is likely to be a rather quiet place this year too.
trail (for them it's free to use)