Malta – New Laws Fight Timeshare Reps
Too many incidents of visitors being confronted on the street while holidaying in Malta have prompted the Maltese authorities to crack down on timeshare companies that employ sales staff to scout potential visiting buyers.
Complaints have increased in recent years from tourists who have had their time on the island wasted by being approached daily for presentations, which can last up to four hours, in the hope that some will buy vacation properties and shared time. .
But Malta’s tourism authorities have seen the damage it is causing to the island’s economy and have decided to act.
‘It has become apparent in Malta,’ comments Roger Munns of the Malta Travel Guide http://www.yourmalta.com, ‘that some tourists are approached daily, sometimes twice a day, by time sellers shared that they are paid a commission for each potential buyer they persuade to take them to a presentation. In addition to the feeling of not being able to leave without being accosted by these people, some verbally mistreated those who refused, or simply followed them down the street after being told no, and harassed tourists.
As the holiday market is vital to Malta’s economy, the Malta Tourism Authority recognized that some visitors would become so put off by the island due to pressure from vendors that they would not return, potentially losing Malta millions. in lost revenue from repeat visitors.
‘In today’s world,’ explains YourMalta, ‘Malta has to compete with new destinations in Europe, as well as Spain and its islands. Cheap flights to Malta are no longer enough to keep tourism at reasonable levels, although this will be welcome, but the trick to sustained tourism is repeat business, and timeshare salesmen pestering island visitors are enough in some cases to make sure repeat visits don’t happen.’
Legislation needed by the tourism authorities to protect tourists has recently been passed, and the Malta Tourism Authority plans to subcontract security patrols to monitor timeshare resellers. And in a smart move designed to effectively enforce the legislation, the Malta Tourism Authority is paying around €3,000 for each representative that timeshare companies employ for a bonus that will allow them to work in a regulated manner. Instead of waiting to take each incident to court, the MTA will fine companies that break the rules and take the money from the deposited bonus, and the timeshare companies will have to immediately compensate you up to the required amount.
Maltese Holidays
Your Malta says it welcomes the stance the Malta Tourism Authority is taking to protect visitors to the island, citing recent examples of why action has become necessary.
In two recent cases, British tourists have been attacked by young male and female timeshare representatives, and while some were based outside hotels in Malta, others were driving in cars and stopping tourists as if asking for directions. pointing at a map. de Malta before giving their sales pitch, some more persistent than others.
Timeshare representatives are mainly from the UK and cater to UK tourists visiting the island for the good weather in Malta, with the UK being a main market for Malta. British tourists have sometimes had to resort to threats of violence to get them to leave alone, with timeshare representatives retorting that they were just trying to make a living.
‘In truth,’ comments YourMalta, ‘While timeshare reps try to earn a commission, for every penny they earn, they could be losing a lot more to Malta’s economy with every approach they make, as tourists soon get fed up with them. persistent efforts to sell them something they don’t want. Such tourists sometimes have their entire vacation spoiled and are less likely to return.
The last thing the island needs is tourists getting off their Air Malta flight to be accosted before they even arrive at their hotel with a sales pitch that reminds them of the double-glazed salesmen back home. The Malta Tourism Authority tells us they will attack the culprits like a ton of bricks.
We welcome the proactive stance taken by the Malta Tourism Authority to protect the British visitor and ensure they can enjoy their holiday, which we hope will be the first of many in Malta. The Malta Tourism Authority is to be commended for not only acknowledging the problem, but also taking action to ensure that the Maltese economy does not lose millions in lost revenue to disgruntled Brits who might otherwise spend their money on other places in the future”.
Only time will tell if Malta can protect its visitors.