As Malta's airport prepares to open, will tourists need to self-quarantine on arrival? Tourism Minister responds
Tourism Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli made a clear statement during TVM programme Insights yesterday on the issue of quarantine for tourists arriving at Malta International Airport.
Asked whether tourists will need to self-quarantine upon their arrival, she said “in that case, the airport can remain closed.”
“If you’re saying that you allow a tourist to come to your country and force them to stay in a hotel room for two weeks, then, speaking for myself, I’d rather stay home and have the freedom to do what I want in my own home.”
Asked whether they will need to undergo a swab test upon arriving, the Minister’s reply was neither here nor there. She said, however, that the health of the individual will be monitored by taking their temperature when they leave their country and when they arrive in Malta.
“We need to look forward now – we are in talks with the health authorities about this and we definitely won’t be opening the airport to keep thousands of tourists stuck inside their hotel rooms for two weeks. Those who work in the tourism industry know that this wouldn’t make sense.”
During the same interview, Julia Farrugia Portelli also announced that the airport will begin operating flights to 19 countries from 1st July, but the list of countries has yet to be revealed.