ITS to move to Smart City, tourists pay eco-tax

Government will invest €56 million in constructing a new premises at Smart City in Kalkara for the Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS). The relocation will herald a new beginning for the institute, which is looking at becoming an international centre of excellence and increase its students from 700 to 900.

Government will be issuing an expression of interest for the current ITS premises in the heart of St Julian’s, which will undergo regeneration.

The area will be home to Malta’s first six-star hotel, and will also see the redevelopment of Villa Rosa.

Starting from the next scholastic year, ITS students will receive a €233 grant to cover educational expenses.

Tourists to pay €5 eco-tax

With Malta expected to start receiving 2 million tourists annually, visitors of 18 years or more will start paying an eco-contribution of 50c a night, capped at €5. This is expected to generate around €6 million a year and the funds will go to a new entity which will replace the foundation for tourism zone development. The new public private partnership will involve the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, which ironically opposes the tax. The government will top-up the fund which will be used to upgrade and maintain public areas in tourist zones.

Energy efficient hotels to receive grants

A new agency created through a public private partnership will be set up to issue white certificates to hotels over energy efficiency. Once these initiatives will be audited and certified, hotels will receive grants or fiscal incentives. If successful, the scheme could be extended to other sectors, including restaurants.