Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/676929
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 8 MAY 2016 39 ENVIRONMENTAL CONTRIBUTION TO ENHANCE THE MALTESE ISLANDS' TOURISM PRODUCT 20% INCREASE MALTA REGISTERED 1.8 MILLION INBOUND TOURISTS AN INCREASE OF 24.2% IN 3 YEARS Tourism product is key priority to our visitors and the main objective of the introduction of the Environmental Contribution is to improve the quality along the tourism value chain. All revenue generated from this initiative will solely and exclusively be directed to upgrade and embellish the local to upgrade and embellish the local infrastructure in di‹erent touristic areas around the Maltese Islands TOURISM PRODUCT Payable by all tourists from the age of 18 and over. €0.50c per person for each night spent on the Maltese Islands for types of accomodation, such as hotels, guest houses, hostels, resorts, timeshare & host families, amongst others. Capped at a maximum of €5 for each continuous stay. ALL ACCOMODATION MECHANISM The collection of this contribution will start on the 1st June 2016. The industry will be refunded 15% of the total contribution for the period of 1st June till 31st October 2016. Amounts collected from the contribution will be applied towards a funds for investment in tourism-related infrastructure. The contribution must be charged separately and will not be included in the room rate charged. This will ensure increased transparency and traceability. Collection will be every three months and is to be administered by the Department of Inland Revenue. Responsibility for collecting the contribution from guests and passing it on to Government will be vested with accommodation services providers, i.e. the licensee. Any person or entity that provides tourist accommodation on a commercial basis will be obliged to collect the contribution and pass it on to Government. All accommodation service providers will be expected to maintain information on the number of guests staying in each room for each stay as well as the ages of their guests. This information will enable the calculation of the charge as well as the audit trail. The contribution must be charged separately and will not be included in the room rate charged. This will ensure increased transparency and traceability and will avoid the charge being subjected to commissions, tour operator margins and VAT The contribution will apply to all guest stays starting after 1 June 2016. The 1st return will cover a 5-month period to 31 October 2016 The 2nd return will cover a 2-month period to 31 December 2016 From 2017, returns will be submitted every 3-months FARM HOUSE BLOCK A MINISTRY FOR TOURISM FOR MORE INFORMATION 2291 5038 (0900 - 1300) www.tourism.gov.mt environmentalcontribution@gov.mt €1.64 BILLION TOURISM EXPENDITURE SURPASSED A RAISE OF 7.5% OVER THAT REGISTERED IN 2014 2015 ANOTHER RECORD YEAR INTOURISM NIGHTS SPENT BY TOURISTS FROM 2012