[WATCH] New cruise liner casino regulations to incentivize cruise liners for longer stays

New regulations to encourage cruise liners to lengthen their stays and visit Gozo

New cruise liner casino regulations to incentivize cruise liners for longer stays

“The new regulations aim to boost tourism as casinos present one of the strongest sources of income in the industry,” said Parliamentary Secretary for competitiveness and economic growth Jose Herrera.

Herrera explained that the new regulations would allow cruise liners to open their casinos when they are berthed in Maltese ports between 6pm and 6am.

“The aim is to incentivize these vessels to spend more time in Malta than they would otherwise,” Herrera said explaining that cruise liners make up a substantial proportion of annual income from tourism, with a generation of an estimated €120 million for the island’s economy.

CEO of Valletta Cruise Ports Steven Xuereb said that the company was already working very hard to promote these regulations as much as possible.

Chairman of the Malta Gaming Authority Joseph Cuschieri said that cruiseliners were being given the right to open their casinos at the stipulated times against a small payment of €500 for vessels with under 1,500 passengers and €1500 for vessels carrying over 1,500 passengers.

Jose Herrera added that vessels that would agree to travel to Gozo would be exempt from these payments.

“This measure will therefore incentivize more cruise liners to travel to Gozo as well as Malta,” he explained adding that this was one of the ways of promoting Gozo as an important touristic zone.

Herrera stressed that the regulations had been a Budgetary promise and the result of various discussions involving his directorate, the Malta Gaming Authority and the Malta Tourism Authority.

“We have made efforts to ensure that the regulations will attract more business and people to the island,” Herrera said adding that there are very few countries that have regulations of this kind.

Cuschieri said that the regulations were not expected to effect on land casinos given that they stated that only passengers of the vessel would be allowed to use the casino on the cruise liner.

Xuereb added that the idea of increasing overnight stays would also mean that passengers could get to enjoy the extensive nightlife of the country, particularly during the summer months.

“The hours when casinos are allowed to operate also ensure that passengers are not tempted to spend the whole day in the cruise liner, but rather go out to visit the island during the day.”