Malta to Raise Tourist Tax Fivefold: How Much Will a Holiday Cost in 2027?

Malta will raise its tourist tax more than fivefold in 2027. Learn the new nightly rates, caps, exemptions, cruise fee and Gozo ferry fares

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Holidays in Malta will cost noticeably more from 1 January 2027. Under the country's Budget 2027, the tourist tax, officially an environmental contribution, will rise more than fivefold: from the current €1.50 per night to €8 per night for hotel guests and €10 per night for those staying in short-term rentals. Cruise passengers who come ashore during a port call will pay a new €10 fee, and trips to Comino and ferries to Gozo will also become more expensive.

Finance Minister Clyde Caruana announced the measures on 26 October, Rus Tourism News reports. Anyone planning a trip to Malta next year, or who has already booked one, should factor the new charges into their budget.

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How much is the new Malta tourist tax for hotels and rentals?

From 1 January 2027, the environmental contribution will depend on the type of accommodation:

• Hotels, hostels, guesthouses and other collective accommodation — €8 per person per night instead of €1.50, capped at €64 per stay;
• Short-term holiday rentals, including apartments booked through platforms such as Airbnb — €10 per adult per night, capped at €80 per person.

Both caps are equal to eight nights at the new rates, so guests staying longer than eight nights will not pay more.

The charge is calculated per eligible guest, not per room. According to local reporting cited by Rus Tourism News, Maltese residents staying in licensed accommodation also pay the contribution.

Who is exempt from the Malta tourist tax?

• Children under 18 do not pay the contribution;
• The government has announced that the accommodation contribution will be removed for eligible stays linked to English-language schools.

About how Vienna has raised its tourist tax — read more at the link.

How will the tax change the cost of a holiday in Malta?

The difference is most noticeable on longer trips. Rus Tourism News gives several examples for two adults:

• Seven nights in a hotel — €112 in contributions, compared with €21 under the current system;
• Seven nights in a short-term rental — €140, which is €119 more than before;
• Eight nights or longer in a hotel — a maximum of €128 for two guests;
• Eight nights or longer in a short-term rental — a maximum of €160 for two adults.

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What is the new €10 fee for cruise passengers in Malta?

Cruise passengers who arrive by ship, disembark during a call at a Maltese port and then return to the same vessel will pay a €10 environmental contribution. Travellers whose cruise begins in Malta are exempt.

This distinction matters for Valletta, which is both a stop on Mediterranean cruise itineraries and a departure port for new voyages. A family of four visiting during a port call would pay an extra €40 if all four are subject to the fee.

The government has not yet published how the fee will be collected, nor confirmed whether cruise lines will include it in their fares or charge it separately.

What else will cost more: Comino and Gozo ferries

The same tourism funding package, separate from the accommodation and cruise charges, raises the cost of trips around the Maltese islands:

• Visiting Comino, home to the famous Blue Lagoon — an extra €5 tourist contribution;
• The Gozo Fast Ferry — tickets for tourists will rise by €3.

Fares on the ferry between Malta and Gozo will also go up for non-residents:

• Adult ticket — from €4.65 to €11;
• Child ticket — from €1.15 to €7;
• Car with driver — from €15.70 to €22.

Why is Malta raising its tourist taxes?

The government expects the revised accommodation contributions to bring in about €182 million a year, with the revenue earmarked for tourism-related spending. The authorities also say the increases are needed to cut spending on state subsidies and direct more money to infrastructure and social services.

Malta anticipates more than 4.5 million tourist arrivals in 2026, which puts extra pressure on infrastructure, transport and popular visitor areas of the small island country.

Malta is not alone: other destinations are also charging visitors more, including Venice, which plans to raise its entry fee to €50.

What should travellers to Malta do now?

• If you have already booked accommodation for 2027, check with the hotel or host whether the new contribution is included in the price or will be collected on arrival;
• When comparing a hotel with a rental apartment, add the nightly contribution to the price, as the rental rate is €2 higher per adult;
• If you are booking a 2027 cruise that calls at Valletta, check the updated fare information and any additional port charges;
• Budget for the €5 Comino contribution and the higher Gozo ferry fares if your itinerary includes the smaller islands.

The measures were announced as part of the 2027 Budget and remain subject to implementation arrangements, so details on collection may still be published.

New taxes and fees are easier to handle when you know the local rules in advance. Get your Travel guide on Visit World and plan your trip to Malta with confidence.

We remind you! In our previous article, we wrote about tourist taxes in Europe in 2026 and how much extra you pay for a vacation.

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