MTA launches Merħba! The Tourism Adventure Game

The Malta Tourism Authority has launched Merħba! The Tourism Adventure Game, an innovative educational board game designed to introduce young people to the diverse career opportunities available within Malta’s tourism industry.

The initiative was launched in collaboration with the Ministry for Tourism and the Ministry for Education and Sport’s National School Wellbeing Services, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen career education and support the development of Malta’s future workforce.

Minister for Tourism, the Hon. Jo Etienne Abela, said: “This interactive game has been developed with the aim of increasing students’ awareness and knowledge of the tourism industry and highlighting its significant contribution to our island’s economy. It also seeks to inspire and inform young people about the diverse career opportunities available within this dynamic and rewarding sector, encouraging them to recognise tourism as a field in which they can build meaningful and successful careers. By engaging with the industry from an early stage, our youth can better appreciate its importance, both for their own personal and professional development and for the continued economic and social prosperity of our island as a whole.

Chairman of the Malta Tourism Authority, Dr Charles Mangion, said: “The launch of this interactive game highlights the importance of collaboration between different departments and ministries, demonstrating once again that when we work together towards a common objective, we can achieve the best possible results. Equally important is the opportunity this initiative provides to students of all ages to learn more about the wide range of career opportunities within the tourism industry. Encouraging our young people to explore and consider these careers is an essential investment in the future of a sector that has contributed so significantly to our country’s economic and social development and will continue to do so for generations to come.”

Designed for students aged 10 and over, Merħba! provides an engaging and interactive way for students to explore the wide range of roles and skills that contribute to Malta’s tourism sector. The game is particularly aimed at middle school students, allowing them to gain greater awareness of potential career paths at an important stage in their education, before making subject choices that may influence their future studies and careers.

The game was completed in time for the beginning of the current scholastic year and will be rolled out to middle school students as part of its educational programme.

Merħba! was developed by the Malta Tourism Authority in collaboration with Malta University Enterprises, with the support and expertise of Professor Leonard Busuttil and Mr Jonathan Barbara in the fields of game-based learning and game design.

Through active learning, the game encourages face-to-face interaction, communication, discussion, negotiation and strategic thinking.

Players are introduced to different tourism businesses and professions through site cards, representing tourism operators, and role cards, representing the professions and skills required within the sector.

As part of the game, students are presented with different visitor profiles and must identify the appropriate roles and services needed to meet their requirements. By successfully matching visitors with the relevant roles, players can earn points and progress through the game.

An important element of Merħba! is the exchange of role cards. Players are encouraged to trade cards by correctly explaining the tourism roles they represent, helping students develop a better understanding of the different professions, responsibilities and skills involved in the industry.

Dorianne Gravina, Education Officer, National Student Wellbeing Services, Ministry for Education and Sport added “We are very pleased with and proud of our collaboration with the Industry HR Unit within the Malta Tourism Authority. This partnership has been particularly meaningful, especially now that it has resulted in the development of this game.

We believe this initiative is highly valuable for students, as it provides them with greater awareness and insight into the diverse career opportunities available within the tourism industry. By gaining a better understanding of these professions at an early stage, students can make informed, thoughtful, and well-considered decisions when choosing their future career paths.

We sincerely value this collaboration and are delighted to contribute to an initiative that supports and inspires the next generation of professionals in the tourism sector.”

The game combines competition and collaboration, requiring students to communicate, negotiate and work strategically while gaining an appreciation of how the different parts of the tourism sector work together. Through gameplay, students learn how tourism businesses, professional roles and visitor services are interconnected and how they collectively contribute to creating a successful tourism experience.

By bringing career guidance into an interactive and enjoyable learning environment, Merħba! aims to raise awareness among young people of the breadth of opportunities available within Malta’s tourism industry and the variety of skills required to build a career in the sector.

The initiative forms part of the Malta Tourism Authority’s broader efforts to engage with students at an early stage of their education, encourage greater awareness of tourism-related careers and contribute towards developing a skilled and sustainable workforce for Malta’s tourism industry.