Marsaskala.com editorial · 5 November 2026
For almost two decades, the former Jerma Palace Hotel has stood abandoned on Marsaskala’s coastline. We believe it deserves a new chapter: a quality tourism destination with a hotel at its heart.
The latest public consultation brings the site’s future back into focus. Residents can comment on the environmental assessment documentation for application PA/00437/23 until 10 November 2026. This is an environmental review stage; the notice does not announce final planning approval or a construction start date.
A hotel that was part of Marsaskala’s story
Jerma opened in 1982 and closed in 2007. Contemporary reporting on its closure described loyal returning guests, particularly from Britain and Germany, some of whom had formed lasting friendships with hotel staff.
That history matters. This was a working hospitality site, connected to visitors, employment and the life of the town. Returning it to a productive tourism role would build on that earlier chapter.
Vintage photographs from our archive
These photographs trace the site from early works to the completed hotel entrance. They come from Marsaskala.com’s existing archive; exact capture dates and photographer credits are not recorded in the available media entries.
Watch: memories of a 2004 holiday at Jerma
Phil McGuinness’s The Corinthia Jerma Palace Hotel, Malta presents photographs described by the uploader as a 2004 holiday, offering a glimpse of the hotel during its operating years.
Watch the original video on YouTube. Video content remains with its original creator.
Explore more in our Jerma Palace Hotel history guide or browse GuideMeMalta’s collection of operating-era photographs.
From holiday destination to abandoned landmark
Since closing, the building has deteriorated. A 2014 report described entrances being blocked off after years of dereliction. The image below documents its later condition; it is dated August 2024, rather than presented as a photograph taken today.
Watch: a film of the ruins
Vaca Filmes’ Ruins of Jerma Palace Hotel documents the abandoned building. It provides a contrast with the earlier holiday photographs, rather than a live update on site conditions.
Watch the original film on Vimeo. The footage is historical documentation, not an invitation to enter the abandoned site.
Accidents and concerns during the years after closure
The story of Jerma’s closure also includes tragedy and repeated concerns over safety and access. The incidents below are drawn from dated reports; they should not be read as a description of everyone who visited the site or proof of present-day activity.
2007: Dr Saviour Cilia killed in a roof collapse
In June 2007, shortly after the hotel closed, Dr Saviour Cilia of Qormi died when part of the roof collapsed. Times of Malta reported that he and his brother were removing equipment with a crane when the accident occurred. His brother survived. This was an accident during equipment removal, distinct from the later incidents involving people entering the abandoned building.
2020: teenager rescued with serious injuries
On 20 December 2020, Times of Malta reported that an 18-year-old Dutch man had been found seriously injured inside the former hotel. Passers-by heard his cries for help and emergency services rescued him. The reported four-storey fall was his account of what happened; police opened an investigation.
Camping, reports of squatting, and substance abuse
A June 2017 report on planning proceedings recorded an officer’s testimony that people were camping on the grounds, which were littered with waste. Atlas Obscura’s 2024 entry also refers to online reports of squatters living inside, although that is not an independently verified count of occupants.
The Malta Independent reported in November 2017 on continuing access to the buildings, signs of bonfires and earlier reports of drug and alcohol abuse. Together with the teenager’s rescue, these accounts underline concerns about people—including young visitors—entering an unsafe site. They do not establish how frequently teenagers attended or who was responsible for particular activities.
Migrant landings: a documented arrival and separate unsubstantiated claims
There is a documented historical arrival: Times of Malta reported in July 2009 that 44 migrants landed at Marsaskala, with campers at the former Jerma alerting the authorities and police and an AFM patrol responding at its watersports facility.
Separate claims circulated in December 2015 alleging that the site was being used as a people-smuggling drop-off point. However, The Malta Independent reported on 5 January 2016 that police had inspected the area and found nothing indicating it was being used for migrant disembarkation. Those later suspicions must therefore remain identified as unsubstantiated claims.
For Marsaskala.com, this history reinforces the need for a safe, managed future for the site, with responsible redevelopment and proper oversight.
What is currently proposed?
The official consultation notice describes a mixed-use resort containing:
- A 134-room five-star hotel and 258 serviced apartments.
- 155 residential units.
- Shops, food and beverage outlets and a below-ground shopping mall.
- 570 parking spaces.
- 13,600 square metres of open space available to the general public.
- Two eight-storey blocks above a landscaped plaza, with two basement levels.
These are proposed elements. The scheme includes a substantial residential component as well as tourism accommodation.
The plans have evolved over time: a different mix was reported in 2021. More recently, The Shift reported residents’ concerns about conflicting figures in the assessment documents. The figures listed here follow the government consultation notice; clear, consistent documentation is needed to assess the proposal properly.
AI-imagined reconstructions inspired by Jerma
These two AI-generated images imagine a restored hospitality setting inspired by Jerma’s former appearance. They are artistic interpretations, not archival photographs, verified exact reconstructions or official images of the current planning proposal.
Why we support a tourism-led future
At Marsaskala.com, we support the principle of returning Jerma to use through quality tourism. A carefully planned hotel development would be a welcome improvement on the dilapidated building that occupies this prominent coastal site.
We believe it could bring opportunities for local employment and for restaurants, cafés, shops, excursions and other services. Visitors staying in the town could discover more of Marsaskala and the south of Malta. Those benefits should be actively encouraged through links with local businesses and welcoming public spaces.
Getting the redevelopment right
Supporting redevelopment means expecting good design and responsible delivery. MaltaToday’s reporting on the environmental assessment identifies concerns about coastal views, St Thomas Tower’s setting, construction disturbance, traffic and utility capacity.
Residents deserve practical answers on these issues, protection of the surrounding heritage and coastline, and lasting access to the proposed public spaces. A successful project should contribute to the wider town throughout its operating life.
Jerma has spent long enough as an abandoned landmark. We want to see it contribute positively to Marsaskala again, and a carefully considered hotel-led future offers a worthwhile opportunity to achieve that.