Sun-seeking Scottish holidaymakers have been tapped up with an offer that sounds too good to be true - getting paid for jetting off to Med this summer.
Senior officials in the Maltese government have come up with the ruse in a bid to revive tourism post-lockdown, with the industry estimated to account for more than a quarter of its economy.
Tourists heading to the island this summer could be in line for as much as €200 ( equivalent to £173 at today's exchange rates) for checking into one of the country's hotels for at least three days.
Under the scheme announced by Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo, Scots will be given €100 by Malta’s Tourism Authority for booking at a five-star hotel. The money is then matched by the hotel, bringing the total to €200.
Speaking to Reuters, Mr Bartolo said: “The scheme is aimed at putting Malta’s hotels in a very competitive position as international tourism restarts.”
The Daily Record reports guests opting to stay at a four-star hotel will receive €150 while those at a three-star hotel will receive €100.
Figures released by the country state that 2.7million foreign tourists visited Malta in 2019 - but that number dropped by 80% since the coronavirus pandemic emerged last year.
Most coronavirus restrictions are set to be lifted on the island by June 1 with almost half of the adult population receiving a first dose of the vaccine.
It is unclear when international travel is expected to resume in Scotland as foreign holidays currently remains illegal under lockdown rules.
Nicola Sturgeon gave an unexpected coronavirus press briefing yesterday, where she stated that international travel remains a ‘significant risk’ during the pandemic.
The First Minister said: “It may well be the case that we do have to endure restrictions on international travel for a bit longer as the price we pay for much greater normality here in Scotland.”
UK Government officials are hoping to resume international travel from as early as May 17.
