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How's Malta doing?

Hello everybody,

I currently live in the UK, and some friends and I want to take advantage on travel restrictions being dropped on Malta and spend a little getaway there. However, I'm not familiar with what the situation is on the ground there. The Maltese government says they're welcoming UK tourists, but I was wondering if anybody knows of what the restrictions are currently. Are hotels/restaurants/museums/beaches open? Do they have a max capacity for hotels and restaurants? Are restrictions easing up or getting heavier? Thanks!

Posted by
7053 posts

Since no one from the US is allowed to travel to the EU, you are not going to be able to get an on-the-ground report. Very few Americans go to Malta (or have even heard of Malta), unlike Brits. Start with their tourism website or call over and ask.

Posted by
6113 posts

Have you looked at the gov.uk website? This states that mask wearing is compulsory inside and out (it seems that lots people have been fined for noncompliance); museums are open; cafes and restaurants have to close at 5pm and only 4 people can share a table; bars and clubs remain closed and hotel restaurants are room service only.

It depends on what you want from a holiday, but it sounds rather limiting at present. Covid infection rates are low.

Posted by
4656 posts

A couple of weeks ago Malta posted an incentive for visitors. I posted it on a travel FB group and someone in Malta said it was still difficult for the locals. So, like some other countries, are they creating a double standard? Not sure. Perhaps ask on TripAdvisor Malta forum, particularly if locals are frequent members there.

Posted by
1324 posts

One advantage of Malta is that English is an official language and most speak it well, including all educated people working in government or journalists. This means you can get on the ground reports via media websites. Obviously the official sites such as VisitMalta and the Ministry of Health are helpful for the rules today. But, with the general caveat that all journalism can be wrong (!), I think The Times of Malta is also a useful source of what will be happening next. For example, these which show restrictions exist, but plans for reopening more sectors are imminent:

https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/covid-measures-restaurants-set-to-re-open-mid-may-bars-staying-shut.865020

https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/heritage-malta-to-reopen-museums-and-sites-in-the-second-week-of-may.867943

If you have access through England's Daily Telegraph website paywall then there has been a lot in the past week about Malta "on the ground" for tourists. TripAdvisor is also useful.

We're thinking of going in June/July, although not yet committed. But our uncertainty is much more to do with the hot Summer weather in Malta rather than any lasting covid issues

Posted by
27908 posts

Malta has one of the world's highest COVID-19 vaccination rates, a bit ahead of the US and the UK.