Malta publishes new tourism accommodation rules targeting quality and enforcement

Malta has published the Tourism Accommodation Regulations 2026, replacing four existing laws with a single set of rules that tighten quality standards and enforcement across the accommodation sector.

The regulations were announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Ian Borg, who said they will close enforcement gaps and align the industry with a strategic shift towards higher-value tourism while safeguarding local communities.

Short-term rental owners now face a series of new obligations. They must affix a sign outside the property entrance displaying the licence number and the name and contact number of a designated person available 24/7 to receive complaints and tackle related issues. For properties forming part of a condominium, owners must provide this information to the residential block administrators as soon as they receive their short-let licence from the Malta Tourism Authority.

Short-let accommodations are also required to submit and implement an adequate waste collection management plan. Owners caught operating without a valid MTA licence will now be liable to a three-year disqualification, in addition to other applicable penalties.

Hotel development faces stricter thresholds. The MTA will no longer favourably consider applications for new hotels, extensions or redevelopments that exceed the maximum permitted height in the relevant Local Plan Height Limitation Maps or Development Briefs. Projects with more than 200 rooms or hotels rated lower than three-star will also not be considered.

Guest houses are capped at 20 rooms and will only be approved if they are located in Urban Conservation Areas, in Scheduled Buildings or in buildings with distinctive architectural features, and only if the development preserves the property’s architectural heritage.

The regulations place increased emphasis on sensitive restoration of heritage buildings through the new Heritage Label and the Diffuso Label, which allows hotels or guest houses to operate across multiple converted buildings within the same Urban Conservation Area, close to a central building housing the main facilities. Three-star, four-star and five-star hotels and guest houses can be promoted as “heritage hotels” if their building is certified historically important and its distinctive heritage features are adequately preserved.

Boutique & Luxury Boutique Labels are included in Maltese legislation for the first time, a move aimed at encouraging further investment in upscale accommodation.

The regulations were finalised following an extensive stakeholder consultation process. A month-long consultation period last November yielded more than 260 responses, along with engagement with industry representatives, government entities, local councils, and two webinars in collaboration with the Chamber of SMEs and the Gozo Regional Development Authority.

Borg described tourism as the cornerstone of the economy and said securing its future demands bold, responsible decisions and a clear direction for future investment. “This is exactly what we are doing through these regulations, which will raise standards across all accommodation categories, ensuring that we continue to meet and exceed our visitors’ expectations,” he said.