Founded in 1987 on the recommendation of the World Tourism Organisation (WTO), the Institute of Tourism Studies still remains the foremost Tourism Institute in Malta available for all those individuals seeking a career in Tourism.

The setting up of this Human Resources project was a clear indication of the Government's commitment to provide a professional educational set up for the Hospitality and Tourism Industry.

The first formal Tourism and Catering training school in Malta, the Msida Catering School, was opened by Mr and Mrs Watkins in the 1960s. After a few years, this school formed part of the Polythecnic, the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology, which provided more advanced training in the Tourism and Catering field. In the year 1987, the school of Hotel Catering and Tourism Studies was transferred to the Mediterranean Conference Centre. Having witnessed the high reputation and the demand for this type of education both locally and internationally, it was decided in the late 1980s that an Institute which was to offer the best academic and practical training in Tourism education had to be set up. Cooperation was forthcoming form all sectors both locally and internationally. Local entities donated catering equipment, local hoteliers committed themselves to training students during the summer months, the Italian Government offered technical aid while English instructors from Serco were chosen under the financial agreement with the European Community.

The Institute of Tourism Studies is founded on historic military grounds. The main campus resides in the ex-British Services Barracks in St. George's Bay, St. Julians. The ex-Officers' Mess situated in Pembroke has since 1997 served as a second campus.

The oldest part of the main campus still retains the following inscription:

This foundation stone was laid by Albert Edward Prince of Wales in the twenty fifth year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria The Right Honorable J. Cornewall Lewis being secretary of state for the war and Lieut. General Sir J.Gaspard Le Marchant Governor and Commander in chief of Malta and its dependencies. A.D. 1862.

The building had to undergo substantial renovations in order to render the premises adequate for the new Institute of Tourism Studies. The creation of various facilities was essential for the students to train in.

This included: demonstration and individual kitchens, bar training laboratory, front office training laboratory, computer training centre, library and research facilities, training restaurants and hotel room training centre. In addition the Institute also thought it essential to have a first class restaurant and bar which would give the students the opportunity to serve the public in a professional environment under the supervision of their lecturers.

The Institute welcomed its first students on 24th October 1988 and was inaugurated on the 18th January 1992 by the parliament secretary for Tourism, the Hon. Michael A. Refalo. Since then the Institute has furnished students with a range of programmes of study to cater for the needs of the individual as well as the Tourism Industry.

Today the Institute offers a wide range of full-time Higher Diploma, Diploma, Certificate, Foundation and Extended Skills Training Schemes programmes of study (in collaboration with the Employment and Training Corporation) which ensure a career in the Tourism, Hospitality and Catering sector. The Institute also offers a wide range of evening courses designed to allow students to continue working and at the same time commence or further their studies in this sector as part of the in-service programme. The Institute also caters for arranged specific training courses as required by the Industry.

In 1989 the Institute opened the I.T.S. Gozo Training Centre, in order to cater for the needs of students in the sister island. This Institute has since then provided morning and evening courses for beginners and in-service personnel in Professional Food Preparation and Production and Food and Beverage Service.

In order to offer students the best possible practical exposure, arrangements have been made with various hotels in Britain and elsewhere where students are given the opportunity to work abroad for a number of months and acquire extensive experience in their area of specialization.

One can undeniably say that nowadays Maltese and Gozitan youths, no longer choose to work in the Tourism, Hospitality and Catering Sector due to lack of employment alternatives as has been the case in the past. The training offered by ITS has been recognized by several bodies. The City and Guilds of London has declared the Institute of Tourism Studies as a centre for examinations in tourism related crafts. The University of Malta has designed a one-year course after completion of the Higher Diploma in Hospitality and Tourism Management programme of studies, that leads to a degree in Tourism Studies.

Tourism Education in Malta has come a long way but the struggle was essential to build up the guaranteed quality and professionalism that the Institute of Tourism Studies offers today.