Think like a visitor on a phone
Picture someone standing in Valletta at lunchtime, or on the ferry to Gozo, looking for a boat trip or somewhere to eat. They don't know your name. They type what they want, often with the place, and pick from whatever looks clear and open.
Visitors can't pop in tomorrow to ask a question. They're deciding now, on a small screen, sometimes on roaming data. Everything below is about answering their questions before they move on to the next result.
English first, then other languages
English is an official language in Malta and the one many visitors will search in, so make sure your English pages are clear and complete before anything else. Use plain words, short sentences and the terms visitors actually type, like "boat trip to Comino" rather than an in-house package name.
If you see lots of guests from one country, a translated version for them can help, especially for menus, tour details and booking terms. Translate the key pages properly rather than running a whole site through an automatic tool and hoping. Our multilingual websites page covers this in more depth.
Be on Google Maps, properly
For a lot of tourists, Google Maps is the guidebook. A full Google Business Profile with your exact pin location, photos, category and reviews puts you in front of people walking nearby. If you run trips from a pickup point, make that location crystal clear.
Our guide to getting on Google Maps in Malta walks through the setup. Make sure your website and profile list the same name, address and phone number.
Show opening hours by season
Many Malta businesses work differently in summer and winter. Beach kiosks, boat operators and dive centres may change their hours or close for months. A tourist arriving to a locked door because your listing still showed August hours will remember it.
Put seasonal hours on your website and update your Google profile when the season changes. Add special hours for public holidays and festas. If weather can cancel trips, say so, and explain how you'll let people know.
Clear prices and easy booking
Visitors compare quickly and may skip places that hide prices. Show what things cost, what's included and what's extra. For tours, say how long they last, where they start and what to bring.
Then make the next step obvious. A visitor shouldn't have to hunt for a phone number or wonder if you speak English. Good options include:
- A "Book now" button that goes straight to a booking form or system.
- A WhatsApp button for quick questions, since many visitors already use the app.
- A map link that opens directions to your door or pickup point.
- Clear notes on how to pay and your cancellation terms.
Fast, simple mobile pages
Heavy pages with huge photos and autoplay videos can crawl on a weak connection by the coast. Compress images, keep pages focused and put the important information near the top. Your opening hours, prices and booking button should be visible without lots of scrolling.
Test your site on your own phone with Wi-Fi switched off. If it's slow or fiddly for you, it will be the same for a visitor.
Getting help with it
You can do much of this yourself with a good Google profile and a simple site. If you'd rather hand it over, Boost builds websites for tour and boat trip businesses and other tourist-facing firms, with WhatsApp and Google Maps buttons included in the €150 website. Tell us about your business through our short brief; we reply within 1 working day.