Denial of visas could harm Malta's reputation for years

Malta's recent denial of visas could have a devastating long-term impact on the English language teaching (ELT) industry, according to the CEO of the

Federation of English Language Teaching Organisations in Malta (Feltom), Jessica Rees-Jones.

In an interview with The Malta Independent on Sunday, Rees-Jones highlighted that Malta rejected over 12,000 visas in 2023, accounting for 36.81% of all visa requests. This was the highest rejection rate in the Schengen area, where the average was 16.96%.

While this issue affects various sectors, the ELT industry is particularly vulnerable due to its position between tourism and education. Most foreign students come to Malta on 90-day visas to attend their chosen schools. The impact of visa denials on this sector could be long-lasting, affecting it for the next five to six years.

Rees-Jones shared that member schools have reported significant financial losses due to visa denials. One school reported a loss of €100,000 or 300 student weeks. Other schools faced losses of approximately €100,000, €40,000, and €19,000. One institution lost over 900 student weeks in 2023 and nearly 500 so far this year.

In 2023, the 78,000 ELT students who came to Malta generated €155 million in revenue. ELT students accounted for 9.4% of tourist guest nights and 5.8% of total tourist expenditure. Over 1,000 teachers and staff are affected by reduced student numbers.

The Feltom annual report, conducted by Deloitte, found a 6.8% decline in student arrivals in the first four months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Rees-Jones argued that Malta's visa issue is throttling the industry's potential growth and causing reputational damage that could steer students to other countries.

Rees-Jones pointed out that the high visa rejection rate offers no benefit and the lack of government communication exacerbates the problem. Feltom has not received explanations for the high denial rates, particularly from countries like Turkey, Brazil, Japan, and Colombia.

The CEO emphasized the need for clear guidelines and better communication from Identità, the government agency responsible for visas. Feltom has offered to cooperate in creating a document outlining visa processes and costs, but this offer has not been accepted.

Rees-Jones also mentioned discussions about additional health screenings for certain countries, which could further complicate the situation. She underscored the industry's role in Malta's tourism and economy, advocating for improved governance and communication to support the sector's growth.

In conclusion, Rees-Jones called for urgent collaboration with all stakeholders to address the visa issue, emphasizing the need for immediate solutions to prevent further damage to Malta's ELT industry and overall reputation.