PN Proposes Limiting Tourism Eco-Tax Increase to May to October
· Updated
In brief
- The Nationalist Party has proposed restricting the planned increase in the tourism eco-contribution to the months of May to October.
- The proposal aims to keep current tax rates unchanged during the off-peak and winter months between November and April.
- The recommendation follows recent budget proposals concerning taxation in the tourism and hospitality sector.
The Nationalist Party has proposed restricting the government's planned increase in the tourism eco-contribution, recommending that the higher rate apply only between May and October.
The proposal focuses on the accommodation eco-tax paid by visitors staying in hotels, guesthouses, and other holiday lodgings across Malta and Gozo.
Under the opposition's plan, the increased levy would be confined strictly to the peak tourist season, leaving charges at their current levels for the remaining six months of the year.
Visitors arriving between November and April would therefore avoid the higher contribution under the suggested framework, preserving price competitiveness during the colder months.
The recommendation was put forward in response to fiscal and taxation measures announced in the government's national budget.
Tourism stakeholders have frequently highlighted the importance of supporting off-peak arrivals, as hotels and operators work to sustain operations outside the busy summer window.
The Spin Room
Low media divide. All outlets reported this development consistently without notable framing differences.
Updates
- : Updated with reporting from Times of Malta: PN leader Alex Borg also warned that new charges on third-country national workers would be passed on to consumers.