Malta Will Pay You Up to 200 Euros to Visit This Summer

Taking a summer trip to Malta could make for an incredible getaway, but it may also come with financial rewards.

With more people getting vaccinated, travel is beginning to open up around the world. And in order to entice tourists, some destinations are getting creative and offering some impressive incentives.

If you've been dreaming up a vacation full of sun and sand, a trip to the Mediterranean island nation of Malta may be in order. Not only is it an incredible place, but Malta is also rewarding tourists with money if they visit this summer. Keep reading to learn more about this exciting offer.

You could earn over 200 euros for visiting Malta

On June 1, 2021, Malta will begin to welcome vaccinated and unvaccinated visitors. For this to happen, the government hopes to work out a deal with the European Commission to allow vaccinated tourists to present a digital vaccine passport to visit without any COVID travel restrictions. The current plan is for unvaccinated tourists to submit a negative PCR COVID-19 test taken a few hours before they arrive in Malta.

Since some people may still be feeling reluctant to travel because of the pandemic, Malta will pay travelers who book and stay at participating hotels. How much money is offered depends on the hotel that you book with. Travelers must stay at least three nights and book their stay directly with the participating hotel to qualify for this reward.

This incentive is offered by the Malta Tourism Authority and participating hotels and will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Here is how much you could get paid:

• A total of 100 euros per traveler when booking a three-star hotel (50 from the Malta Tourism Authority and 50 from the hotel)
• A total of 150 euros per traveler when booking a four-star hotel (75 from the Malta Tourism Authority and 75 from the hotel)
• A total of 200 euros per traveler when booking a five-star hotel (100 from the Malta Tourism Authority and 100 from the hotel)
• Travelers staying at hotel properties on the island of Gozo will receive an additional 10% incentive

The total allocated budget for this incentive is 3.5 million euros. Malta is hoping that this will help bring in 35,000 tourists this summer and stimulate its struggling local economy. The island nation relies heavily on tourism dollars. But, according to Reuters, tourism in Malta has declined by over 80% since March 2020.

Plan ahead before you go

To take advantage of this offer, check with the hotel that you plan to book and make sure that its participating in the incentive. You'll need to book directly with the hotel and not use an outside booking website. You must also be an independent traveler, meaning you booked the trip on your own and didn't book a package deal or go through a travel agency.

Before traveling, it's a smart idea to check local COVID-19 positivity rates. At this time, the CDC does not recommend that U.S. citizens travel to Malta, but that could change in the coming months. Also, for air travel, U.S. citizens are currently required to present a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of travel or proof of recovery from the virus within the last 90 days before re-entering the U.S.

As you begin to plan out your upcoming summer adventures, keep a trip to Malta on your list of options. You may be able to visit a gorgeous, fun-filled destination while also putting a bit of extra money in your pocket.

Check out our tips on how to travel safely and on a budget in 2021. This includes ways to use a rewards credit card to help you save money on your next vacation. And if you don't have one yet, our guide to the top travel rewards credit cards has plenty of options for you.