Tourist tax in Malta A complete guide

Malta captivates travelers with its ancient treasures and stunning blue shores.Its tourist tax aids sustainable tourism. Trippz simplifies compliance by automating tax collection, remittance, and reporting via a digital platform.

Is there a tourist tax in Malta?

Malta has implemented a tourist tax known as the Environmental Contribution, which applies to all visitors staying in any type of accommodation across the Maltese Islands. This tax was introduced on June 1, 2016, with the primary goal of generating revenue to improve and embellish local infrastructure in tourist areas.

For tourists

Why is there a tourist tax in Malta?

Malta’s tourist tax (Environmental Contribution) exists to sustainably enhance tourism infrastructure, funding upgrades in popular areas. Introduced in 2016, it ensures visitors enjoy improved facilities while supporting local communities, balancing tourism growth with environmental and cultural preservation.

Rate of the tourist tax in Malta

These are the current applicable Tourist Tax rates in Malta in 2026. To keep the information simple and clear, we present below the rates applicable during the high season and for adults. These rates apply to the most common types of accommodation, making it easy to compare the rates with other countries or cities, and apply per person per night. If you have specific questions or would like more detailed information, please contact us.

Accommodation type	Malta
3 star hotel	1.5 EUR
3 star short-term rental	1.5 EUR
Bed & Breakfast	1.5 EUR
3 star camp site	1.5 EUR

Last updated: 3 Aug 2026

Frequently asked questions from tourists

• Do I have to pay a tourist tax when staying in Malta?

  Yes, all visitors aged 18 and older staying in paid accommodations must pay Malta's Environmental Contribution. This applies to all types of accommodation across the Maltese Islands, including hotels, guesthouses, apartments, and host families. The tax supports tourism infrastructure improvements.

• How much is the tourist tax in Malta?

  The Environmental Contribution is €0.50 per person, per night for guests aged 18 and older. The tax is capped at a maximum of €5 per person per continuous stay, meaning after 10 nights, no additional tax is charged. This cap also applies to twin-center stays between Malta and Gozo.

• Do children have to pay the tourist tax in Malta?

  No, children under 18 years old are completely exempt from paying the Environmental Contribution. Only guests who are 18 or older must pay the tax.

• Is the tourist tax included in the price of my accommodation?

  No, the Environmental Contribution must be charged separately from the room rate and itemized clearly on invoices. Accommodation providers are required by law to show it as a separate charge that is VAT-exempt and free of commissions.

• What is the tourist tax used for in Malta?

  The Environmental Contribution revenue is directed exclusively toward upgrading and enhancing local infrastructure in tourist areas around the Maltese Islands. The main objective is to improve quality along the tourism value chain and ensure Malta remains an attractive and sustainable destination.

For hosts

Guest registration in Malta

All tourism accommodations in Malta are required to maintain a guest register. This requirement is established under the Travel and Tourism Services Act (Chapter 409) and the Tourism Accommodation Establishments Regulations (Legal Notice 351 of 2012).

How Trippz can help you

Guest registration details in Malta

In the guest register, the following details must be recorded:

• Full name
• Year of birth
• Nationality (from passport/ID)
• Address and contact details (phone/email)
• Date of arrival and departure

All guests (regardless of age) must provide a valid passport or ID during check-in. Accommodation providers are legally required to collect and retain this information under Malta’s Tourism Accommodation Establishments Regulations (Legal Notice 351 of 2012) .

Submission of the guest registration to the police in Malta

Licensed accommodation in Malta isn’t required to submit guest registers routinely. Instead, providers must retain guest registration books under Legal Notice 351 of 2012 and produce them for on-site inspection or hand them over to the Malta Police Force when formally requested under Article 40 of the Travel and Tourism Services Act (Chapter 409).

Guest Registration Data Storage in Malta

In Malta, accommodation hosts must store guest registration data in compliance with the Tourism Accommodation Establishments Regulations (Legal Notice 351 of 2012) and GDPR. Data should be retained only as long as necessary for regulatory audits and then securely deleted. Hosts are required to implement technical and organizational safeguards—such as encryption, access controls, and regular security testing—to protect data confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Records may be kept electronically in secure property management systems or physically in locked files, accessible only to authorized staff.

Handling of tourist tax

• Remittance of tourist tax

  Accommodation providers in Malta remit the Environmental Contribution quarterly via the VAT Department’s online portal, using Internet Banking or the Government Payment Gateway. Payments must be filed with returns by the 15th of the following month. 

• Storing your administration for tourist tax

  Accommodation providers must retain records (guest names, ages, nights stayed, tax collected) for 5 years. Data must comply with Malta’s Data Protection Act and GDPR, ensuring accurate reporting for audits by the VAT Department or Malta Tourism Authority.

• Tourist tax when renting through an online booking platform

  When renting through platforms like Airbnb or Booking.com, accommodation providers are still responsible for collecting the tourist tax. The tax must be collected from guests upon arrival or via the platform if supported. It's the provider’s duty to ensure compliance and to remit the tax to the government periodically.

• Short-term rental registration requirements

  Owners must obtain a Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) license, renewable annually, to legally rent properties short-term . As of 2025, landlords must register properties in the Land Registry for a Unique Registry Number, mandatory for listings . Leases must be registered with the Housing Authority within 10 days, detailing terms and tenant/landlord info . New regulations may require neighbor consent for apartment rentals, impacting most licensed holiday homes . Non-compliance risks penalties or license revocation .

Frequently asked questions from hosts

• Do I need to register my short-term rental property in Malta?

  Yes, all short-term rentals (e.g., apartments, villas) must be licensed by the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA). As of 2025, properties must also be registered in the Land Registry for a Unique Registry Number, mandatory for listings .

• What information must I collect from guests?

  In Malta, hosts are required to collect and record guests’ full name, nationality, year of birth, contact details (address, phone number, and email), and arrival/departure dates. Guests must also present a valid passport or government-issued ID during check-in to verify their identity, as per Malta’s Tourism Accommodation Establishments Regulations.

• Are there differences for Maltese vs. foreign guests?

  No. All guests, including Maltese locals staying in commercial accommodations, must provide identification. Registration requirements apply equally regardless of nationality.

• How long do I need to store the guest registration records?

  Records must be retained for 5 years under the Tourism Accommodation Establishments Regulations (Legal Notice 351 of 2012). Data must comply with Malta’s Data Protection Act and GDPR.

• What are the penalties for non-compliance?

  Fines range from €2,500 to €10,000 for unregistered leases or improper guest records. Severe cases may result in license revocation.

Trippz: the authority on tourist tax

Tourist tax is set locally and rates change without warning. Trippz tracks every change and keeps the data current, which is why travel platforms and property software, including Airbnb, Booking.com and Expedia, rely on Trippz to calculate tourist tax and register guests in every market they serve.

How Trippz stays current

Trippz checks tax rules jurisdiction by jurisdiction against official municipal and national sources. When a rate or rule changes, the update happens automatically rather than on a periodic review cycle. This is the same monitoring that travel platforms and software vendors depend on to stay accurate everywhere they operate.

One tax engine, every market

Send a location, get the applicable rate, instantly and correctly calculated. Travel platforms and property software embed this calculation directly into their own product, so every booking is taxed correctly without building or maintaining a rate engine in house. It is the same logic behind every rate on this page.

Explore Trippz for Platforms

Frequently asked questions about Trippz

• How can platforms and software vendors use Trippz?

  Trippz provides tourist tax content and a ready made calculation engine through one API. Platforms and software vendors add accurate tax calculation to their product without maintaining a rate database in house. Guest registration and authority connections are available as a separate capability for those who need it.

• How does Trippz keep tourist tax rates current?

  Trippz checks the jurisdictions it covers against official sources and updates rates automatically when a city or country changes them.

  
  

• Which countries and cities does Trippz cover?

  Trippz maintains tourist tax data across a wide range of countries and cities. See the full overview in our tourist tax guides.

• Is Trippz's data and infrastructure secure?

  Yes. Trippz is SOC1 Type 2 and SOC2 Type 2 certified and GDPR compliant, so platforms and software vendors can embed tourist tax calculation without adding security or compliance risk of their own.

• Who uses Trippz for tourist tax?

  Trippz provides tourist tax data and calculation to travel platforms and property software across Europe, including Airbnb, Booking.com and Expedia. The same infrastructure that powers stays booked through the biggest platforms in travel is available to any platform or software vendor through the API.