The Malta Tourism Authority is proud to launch the second edition of the Malta Tourism Awards, celebrating excellence, innovation, and commitment in Malta’s tourism industry by recognising businesses, initiatives, and individuals that distinguish themselves through exemplary practices while inspiring others to emulate their success.
This year’s Awards will span three main categories, each designed to reflect the breadth and dynamism of the sector. The Responsible Tourism Development Award, The Tourism Worker of the Year Award and The Special Theme Recognition which has been introduced to highlight emerging niches within the industry and to create greater awareness of specialised contributions. Applications for the Malta Tourism Awards 2025 are now open and will remain so until midnight on 31 January 2026. Nominations must refer to investments made during 2025 and to workers employed by the nominating business in 2025, will be considered with nominations to be submitted online at www.mtobservatory.org/awards, where full details, including eligibility criteria, guidelines, and terms and conditions, are also available.
To ensure the Awards continue to evolve in step with industry needs, the second edition introduces refined evaluation criteria. Under the Responsible Tourism Development Award, judges will now also consider innovation and future readiness. A new Digital Presence criterion has been introduced, placing greater emphasis on online visibility and customer reviews, which will boost Malta’s digital destination ranking. The revamped Awards website is now more accessible and inclusive, offering a bilingual feature including Maltese and English, while a new chatbot provides 24/7 support to make the application process easier and more efficient.
Speaking at the launch, Leslie Vella, Chief Officer Strategic Development and Deputy CEO of the Malta Tourism Authority, highlighted the importance of this initiative:
“Following a successful inaugural edition of the Malta Tourism Awards, the MTA shall intensify its drive to shine a spotlight on outstanding contributions across the tourism sector by acknowledging leaders, innovators, and dedicated professionals who enhance the visitor experience. The MTA is also introducing a recognition for an annual thematic niche to create awareness on emerging product offers, starting off this year with LGBTIQ+ Tourism.”
Suzanne Brincat Dimech, Head of Unit of EU Matters/Funding & Industry HR, also reflected on the MTA’s vision for the Awards:
“In the second edition of the Malta Tourism Awards, a wider spectrum of tourism operators with best practices will be awarded to motivate continuous improvement within the industry. The MTA is committed to elevating the Malta Tourism Awards into a prominent and prestigious annual event that emphasises the importance of tourism stewardship in today’s world.”
For further details and to submit applications, please visit www.mtobservatory.org/awards.
