The MTA’s support for conferences in Malta
The Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) pays an amount per foreign delegate towards conferences, meetings, incentives and expos held in Malta outside June to September.
Its most recent call ran from December 2025 to 28 February 2026. The MTA had not published a later call by 15 October 2026.
The December 2025 call
- Programme
- The Conferences & Expos Marketing Support Program, one of three MTA marketing support programmes. The other two are for sports events and music tourism.
- Call
- Open from December 2025 to 28 February 2026, first come first served or until the budget ran out. The MTA’s board decides after the call closes.
- Budget
- €3,000,000. The MTA adds nothing once it is allocated.
- Event dates
- 1 January to 31 May and 1 October to 31 December, with no agreement running past December 2028. Events from June to September are not eligible.
- Who applies
- A company with a valid registration in its own country, or an international association registered with ICCA.
- Minimum size
- More than 200 accredited foreign delegates, staying at least three consecutive nights.
- Minimum spend
- For meetings, incentives and conferences, €1,000 plus VAT per foreign delegate, excluding flights, from November to April, or €1,500 plus VAT in May and October. For expos, €750,000.
- Payment
- After the event, once every document the MTA asks for has been sent, within 30 days of the event.
What the MTA pays per delegate
| Accredited foreign delegates | November to April | May and October |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 200 | No support | No support |
| 201 to 2,000 | €40 | €35 |
| 2,001 to 5,000 | €45 | €40 |
| 5,001 to 10,000 | €50 | €45 |
| 10,001 to 15,000 | €55 | €50 |
The amounts include VAT, and support stops at 15,000 delegates. Only accredited foreign delegates who travel to Malta count. Accompanying guests, Maltese delegates and foreign delegates who live in Malta do not.
The MTA pays on the final count. A forecast more than 20% above it carries a penalty at the same rate. In the MTA’s own example, 1,000 delegates are forecast for November and 700 arrive, so the organiser is paid for 700, less a €4,000 penalty.
How an application works
- 1
The applicant emails the MTA at sponsorships.mta@visitmalta.com, naming the event. The email carries the signed form, the company registration, the full programme, the costings in Excel with pro forma invoices and supplier contracts, and an economic impact assessment.
- 2
The MTA’s board decides after the call closes and tells successful applicants the amount by email.
- 3
The applicant agrees with the MTA how delegates will be accredited, then signs a support agreement.
- 4
After the event, the applicant sends a summary, the final programme, the costings and invoices with proof of payment, client and delegate feedback, a media report, a reconciliation of accredited delegates endorsed by the MTA, an economic impact assessment and closing remarks.
- 5
The MTA pays once all of it has arrived.
The full terms are in the MTA’s guidelines for the December 2025 call (PDF).
Earlier calls
- June 2025
- €3.5 million, open from 9 June to 11 July 2025, for events from January to April and September to December. The rates were the same, with September and October as the lower period.
- 2021
- The M.I.C.E. Business Scheme paid €150 per overseas attendee where at least €800 was spent per delegate, or €75 where at least €600 was spent, for events up to December 2022.
Our news post from 2021 describes that scheme.
MTA conference support: common questions
- Is the MTA’s support for conferences open now?
No. The most recent call ran from December 2025 to 28 February 2026, and the MTA had not published a later call by 15 October 2026. The call before it opened in June 2025.
- How much does the MTA pay per delegate?
In the December 2025 call, €35 to €55 per accredited foreign delegate, depending on the month and the number of delegates. An event of 200 delegates or fewer receives nothing.
- Which months are excluded?
June to September. Events in those months were not eligible in the December 2025 call.
- Who can apply?
A company with a valid registration in its own country, or an international association registered with ICCA.
Sources
- Conferences & Expos Marketing Support Program, guidelines, December 2025 (MTA, PDF)
- Application form and annexes, December 2025 (MTA, PDF)
- MTA unveils three marketing support programs for key tourism segments (MTA, 17 December 2025)
- Marketing Support Programmes (MTA)
Planning a conference in Malta?
Send us the dates, rough numbers and what you need the programme to achieve. A senior planner will reply the same day.
Or call +356 9904 9514