London, March 2021 - As of 1 June 2021 Malta will welcome passengers from the UK who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the country.
British travellers who can show proof of full vaccination* received at least ten days before arriving in the country will no longer have to provide a negative PCR test certificate 72 hours prior to, or on arrival in Malta. Passengers will need to show their vaccination card when boarding to be accepted to travel.
Malta is second to the UK in terms of European countries vaccinating the greatest proportion of its population, with 40% of the adult population having received its first dose, making the destination a safe choice for future travel.
Tolene Van Der Merwe, Director UK & Ireland of Malta Tourism Authority commented, "Malta is a very popular destination for British holidaymakers and is a key contributor to Malta's economy, so we are excited to welcome back fully vaccinated travellers from the United Kingdom from 1 June 2021. The people of Malta are looking forward to tourists returning who have loved our sunshine, culture, food and warm spirit year in year out.
"Malta has implemented its Sunny and Safe COVID protocols, so visitors can be reassured that all restaurants, accommodation and service providers must comply with the highest levels of cleanliness and safety." Malta Tourism Authority.
Clayton Bartolo, Malta's Minister for Tourism and Consumer Protection said, "The health and safety of Maltese citizens and tourists will always be our top priority, and with the continued rollout of the vaccine here in Malta, this focused reopening plan is designed to slowly and safely reopen tourism to fully vaccinated Britons."
British travellers will be able to visit the archipelago, comprised of Malta, Gozo and Comino - for leisure and business trips, where visitors can enjoy the sights of the islands. With many travellers looking forward to restrictions easing and the allure of future trips to Malta on the horizon, the Malta Tourism Authority will also be launching its new campaign, ‘Feel Free Again'. The campaign aims to inspire travellers to harness their re-established freedom to plan, book and travel to Malta when the time is right, to once again experience all that the islands have to offer and the feeling of freedom it brings.
This latest announcement is another example of Malta and the UK's special, long-standing relationship which dates back to the 1800 when Malta voluntarily became part of the British Empire as a protectorate and in the 20th century Malta was famously favoured by Her Majesty the Queen, and she spent two years living on the island when the Duke of Edinburgh conducted his work for The Royal Navy and returned for many state visits. Present day Malta offers world-class diving, a burgeoning gastronomy scene and year-round warm weather. The islands have an exciting few months in store with a wealth of new restaurant, hotel and spa openings for travellers to enjoy when they can return.
For more inspiration and information on travelling to Malta, visit: www.maltauk.com and www.visitmalta.com
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More Information
For more information or images please contact Amy Skelding, Olivia Lewis, Catharine Pracownik or Georgia Gogarty malta@finnpartners.com
Notes to Editors
*A full vaccination is both doses of a Coronavirus vaccine, received at least ten days before arriving in Malta
The UK is currently on Malta's ‘Red List' of countries, which means non-vaccinated travellers cannot currently enter the country. Non-vaccinated travellers on Malta's ‘Amber List' of countries can still enter Malta but must present a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of travel**. For the latest travel travel advise visit: https://www.visitmalta.com/en/covid-19
More information about Malta's Sunny and Safe protocols can be found here.
About Malta
Malta is an archipelago in the central Mediterranean. Comprising three main islands - Malta, Comino and Gozo. Malta is known for its history, culture and temples dating back over 7,000 years and is home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In addition to its fortresses, megalithic temples and burial chambers, Malta is blessed with nearly 3,000 hours of sunshine every year. English is the second national language on the islands, and Malta is part of the EU; Valletta is the smallest capital in Europe. The archipelago is famous for its diving, which attracts aficionados from around the world, whilst the nightlife and music festival scene attract a younger demographic of traveller. In 2020 Malta was added to the Michelin Guide, and has three Michelin-starred restaurants. Malta will host Euro Pride 2023 and is consistently ranked as one of the top countries by the IGLA for LGBTQ travellers. There are daily departures to Malta from all major airports across the country, with an average flight time of three hours. www.malta-training.com