Under a new Maltese program, students who travel to the island to learn English this summer will receive up to 300 euros in vouchers to spend. The vouchers are part of a program to boost the tourist season, with the aim of stimulating the language course sector.
A program dedicated to language schools
At a press conference, Minister of Tourism Clayton Bartolo said the government has earmarked a budget of one million euros to help schools get back on their feet after a difficult year. Schools have been forced into repeated closures to curb the global pandemic.
"This program will benefit both the students, who will have more disposable income to spend in our country, and the schools themselves, as it will help encourage students who wish to come to our country", Bartolo said.
Each student coming to Malta to learn English will receive a 10 euro voucher for each day spent on the island. To be eligible, students must spend a minimum of 15 nights in Malta, while the maximum amount they can receive will be capped at 30 nights, or €300.
Vouchers can be spent at any outlet that accepts government vouchers issued to residents of Malta. They cannot be exchanged for cash and will be distributed from June 1 - the official date of the reopening of tourism in Malta.
Applications for the program opened on Monday, May 10. It is up to the schools to take charge of registering their students for the financial aid program.
The government hopes that the program will inject some 7 million euros into the economy.
FELTOM, the federation representing ESL schools, welcomed the new program, saying the initiative was "tangible evidence of support for this struggling sector.
How to participate in the program?
Bartolo, the tourism minister, said that schools will be responsible for registering for the program. They will have to submit the details of the students' flights and courses, as well as the personal data of the students involved.
The vouchers will then be sent to the school to be given to the students upon their arrival.
A webinar is being planned by the Maltese authorities to hear from stakeholders about the details of the program.
Malta boosts its economy
Malta already has a number of voucher schemes in place to attract tourists, including a €3.5 million fund to encourage foreign tourists to stay in a three-, four- or five-star hotel.
Under this program, the government will pay tourists €100 if they stay in a five-star hotel, €75 if they stay in a four-star hotel and €50 if they stay in a three-star hotel.
Two sports programs have also been set up, each offering €100 vouchers for diving and sports.
Things to remember
To summarize, students can receive a voucher of €10 per day, up to a maximum of €300 (i.e. €10 per day for 30 days of classes), a fee issued by the language schools themselves.
Some students have already received their coupons
As you can see below, an IH Malta student received his coupon.
