Talks underway for eco-tax to pass on to schools not host families

Tourism minister Edward Zammit Lewis said that the government as currently in talks with stakeholders to divert the administration of eco-contribution tax for EFL students from host families to the schools.

The contoversial eco contribution tax that came into force last Monday is expected to generate funds for projects scheduled to start from 2017. 

The contribution will consist of an income of 50c per tourist over 18, capped at 5. The implementation of the tax had garnered harsh criticism from stakeholders who claimed that the change was too abrupt, and from EFL schools that insisted that the change would discourage families from hosting foreign students, to the detriment of the sector.

“We are also working towards a better more sustainable film industry,” Zammit Lews said, explaining that efforts were being made to prevent the sector from being sesaonal and temporary. He explained that a long-term Swedish series would be using Malta for a number of years to come, as part of the effort to ensure more long-term work.

The minister added that the government was also aiming to rennovate and invest over €15 million in Rinella to bring its film facilities out of the derilict state they were in.

Zammit Lewis also remarked that tourism had continued to achieve impressive results throughout the year, with over 8 million arrivals and in 2015, with 2016 already indicating growth, and a rise of almost 14,000 tourists compared to May 2015.

“In June we are expected to surpass 200,000 tourists in the month with Gozo  seeing over 1 million visitors last year.”

Zammit Lewis added that the government was working alongside MTA to ensure more carrying capacity particularly during the winter months and for niche tourism like LGBT travelling, medical tourism, as well as better accessibility in the sector.

“We are also working on creating more blue flag beaches and on creating better working conditions for people in the sector,” he said, adding that the governmnet was also working to attain EU funding and create skills cards to further emhasizie the benefits for workers in the sector.

Zammit Lewis also discussed the national airline and explained that the governmet had dedicated extensive work to bring Air Malta back on its feet.

“The government is committed to defending and safeguarding the natonal airline, and continuing to work towards sustainable and effective changes,” he said, adding that negotiations were currently underway to better outline the way forward for the national airline.

Zammit Lewis explained that the airline did not intend to sell any of its slots, but that negotiations were currently under way with a draft business plan aimed for the end of June, to better see the way forward for the national airline and its strategic partner Alitalia.

“We need to look at the connectivity that Alitalia currently as in order to see how we can truly benefit from it,” he said, adding that the airline contined to be a challenge.

Speaking at the consutlation, Gozo minister Anton Refalo said that Gozo had become an important driving force in the tourism offered by the country. He added that the MTA had dedicated some €250,000 to increase the number of blue flag beaches on the island.

“Gozo has already seen a 58% rise in tourists who spent at least one night in Gozo in the first quarter of the year, and the Gozo Channel has made around €626,000 in the first three months of 2016,” he said driving home the point that Gozo was important to the local economy.