The TSPD main area of responsibility is the receipt and assessment of developments requiring a Tourism Compliance Certificate or a ‘No Objection' from the Malta Tourism Authority to be able to initiate an application with other Authorities and entities, such as: the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) and the Health Department. The Unit is also a MEPA gateway through which projects filed with MEPA by private investors as well as government sponsored projects are directed to the Authority through an e applications system for endorsement. (https://www.pa.org.mt/)
The Unit uses the Internal Market Information System to communicate with other Authorities in the EU. IMI is a secure online application that allows authorities to communicate easily with their counterparts abroad (https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/imi-net/) (http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/imi-net/index_en.html). This application is used by competent authorities at national, regional and local level in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway who deal with the specific legislation supported by it. It helps users within an authority find the right authority to contact in another country according to the specific area of enquiry.
In turn, TSPD uses the Point of Single Contact to communicate with service providers and other interested parties. The Point of Single Contact is a virtual medium (website: https://forms.mygov.mt) that enables service providers, recipients, and other interested parties to obtain information and engage with the relevant competent authorities. The aim behind this website is to remove barriers that prevent or deter service providers from establishing their business in other Member States and to ensure free movement of services across borders by making it easier to provide services.
Tourism Activities requiring a Tourism Compliance Certificate from the Unit:
Through the following legislations the Unit monitors and regulates the tourism activities under its remit. These regulations also serve as guidelines to the industry to maintain the product/service and also to direct the public on what kind of product/service to expect. Each tourism area pertaining to the TSPD Unit is defined below as per Chapter 409 Malta Travel and Tourism Services Act. Following each definition, a hyperlink to the actual Legislation is included together with the relevant application:
“Hotel" means any building, howsoever described, in which accommodation, ancillary services and amenities are provided for the public by a common management and includes any number of such buildings which are grouped together;
"Tourist Village" means any building howsoever described, which does not exceed the maximum height of three storeys, which is detached from any other building and is situated within an extensive and defined parcel of land in which accommodation, ancillary services and amenities are provided by a common management, whereby the accommodation units consist in guest bedrooms or suites or self-catering units or a combination of the same, and in which sport and, or recreational activities are offered and other outdoor facilities are provided.
"Travel agent" means any person who, whether as principal or agent, arranges for, advises on or undertakes to provide to tourists and other persons, whether singly or in groups, travel arrangements in respect of outgoing travel, including accommodation in a hotel, guest house, hostel, holiday premises or house used for the provision of accommodation to tourists; travel by air, land or sea. organised excursions and all other matters normally or by custom connected with the tourism industry; but does not include a hotel MALTA TRAVEL AND TOURISM SERVICES (CAP. 409. 5) keeper, guest house keeper, keeper of holiday premises, a person who provides accommodation to tourists in a house, a tourist guide, a supplier of transport services, an incoming tourism agency, a destination management company or an organised excursion operator and "travel agency" shall be construed accordingly;
"Incoming tourism agent" means any person who, whether as principal or agent, arranges for, advises on or undertakes to provide to tourists and other persons, whether singly or in groups, travel arrangements in respect of incoming travel including accommodation in a hotel, guest house, hostel, holiday premises or house used for the provision of accommodation to tourists; travel; organised excursions and all other matters normally or by custom connected with the tourism industry, but does not include a hotel keeper, guest house keeper, hostel keeper, keeper of holiday premises, a person who provides accommodation to tourists in a house, a tourist guide, a person who provides transport services, a travel agency, a destination management company or an organised excursion operator and "incoming tourism agency" shall be construed accordingly;
"Guest house" means any building, howsoever described, but not being a hotel, in which accommodation, ancillary services and amenities are provided for the public by a common management;
"Hostel" means any building, howsoever described, but not being a hotel or a guest house, in which accommodation, ancillary services and amenities of a basic standard are provided for the public by a common management.
L.N. 351 of 2012 Tourism Accommodation Establishments Regulations, 2012
Tourism Accommodation Development Application Hard Copy
Online Submission
"Catering establishment" means any building, premises or other establishment, including kiosks, howsoever described, purveying for reward food and, or, beverages including wines and spirits, for Consumption.
Catering Establishment Application Hard Copy
Online Submission
"Organised excursion" means any organised excursion or tour for five or more tourists or other persons to one or more places in or around Malta or transport but excludes any service intended solely to provide transport; and "organised excursion operator" shall be construed accordingly.
"Destination management company" means any person whose principal line of business, whether as principal or agent, is the creation, planning and operation of high level motivational and specialised programmes for tourists and other persons, whether singly or in groups, and which programmes include the provision of all or any of the following services: accommodation in a hotel or other suitable establishment; travel; conference facilities; excursions; guides; interpreters; technical support; entertainment and all other matters normally connected with motivational programmes, congresses, meetings and conference and incentive travel. The term ''destination management company'' does not include a hotel keeper, guest house keeper, keeper of holiday premises, a person who provides accommodation to tourists in a house, a tourist guide, a person who provides transport services by land, sea or air, an incoming tourism agent, a travel agent or an organised excursion operator;
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 409.09 Travel Operators and Organised Excursion Operators Regulations
Travel Operation Application Hard Copy
Online Submission
“Dive Centre” means the premises from where any person or entity offers recreational diving services to clients and, or to members.
L.N. 359 of 2012 Recreational Diving Services Regulations, 2012
Recreational Diving Services Application Hard Copy
Online Submission
Contacts:
Assistant Manager
Chantelle Mizzi
Chantelle.mizzi@visitmalta.com
22915627
Executive
Michelle Cohen
Michelle.cohen.1@visitmalta.com
22915611
Clerk
Saline Spiteri
Saline.spiteri@visitmalta.com
22915626
Clerk
Lianne Dalli
Lianne.dalli@visitmalta.com
22915628