Tourism Minister Jo Etienne Abela is being urged to intervene decisively on public funding for large party events by the Malta Tourism Authority, after residents’ groups and the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association warned that the current model is damaging communities and Malta’s reputation.
In a statement titled “We Deserve Better”, residents’ groups across Malta accused the authorities of promoting the country as a destination for mass youth entertainment while leaving locals to bear the costs. They described sleepless nights, loud music, disorder in public spaces and growing pressure on beaches, streets and other shared areas.
Residents’ associations insisted that the minister explain who organised the events behind the recent incidents, whether anyone has been brought to court, and whether organisers will face consequences. They are also demanding answers on future licences, the amount of VisitMalta funding given to promoters, and who pays for police and Transport Malta security.
The MHRA has also joined calls for change.
It warned that incidents linked to party entertainment risk undoing work to position Malta as a higher-value, more respectful tourism destination.
The MHRA insisted that commercially established party events should no longer receive tourism funding, whatever the season. Those funds, it said, should support initiatives that bring greater value to visitors and lasting benefits to local communities.
The MHRA said organisers should be free to run events commercially, but under clear rules covering security, crowd management, alcohol, noise, cleanliness and public order.
The residents’ groups insisted that they feel like strangers in their own country.
The MTA has been pumping millions into the ‘party island’ model, boasting about how many young tourists are coming to Malta. Its disbursements have been kept secret for years, with no transparency or accountability.
The trend started when disgraced former minister Konrad Mizzi took over the tourism portfolio and has continued to grow since then.
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To sponsor MTA presume studied the event..clearly satisfied good to sponsor. Publish profilre you supported please.
Its not discrimination but the Afro event draws visitors from where ? London-Birmingham and numerious cities have seen bad anti-social behaviour…the Malta package looks good cheap air fare -bed for €400.00 for 6-nights…alcohol drinking age lower and marijuana legal…made to party but not supporting the Tourism most wish
what is fascinating is that with all the bs coming out of the mhra and t zahra, they continue sucking up to this establishment.
the trend did start with konrat mizzi however it continued strongly with the likes of gerada, the cabal of 365, casha and others controlling mta.
the honerable minister can do nothing to this cabal – the only possibility is that the min of fin radically slashes the funding to mta
Is marijuana legal for tourists? Can it be consumed in public places? Are we allowing too much to pass unchecked? As far as I’m aware, possession is legal for locals, as is cultivation, but it cannot be consumed in public or where minors are present.
Dal poplu veru gwejjed! Hadulu bicca art hadra f ta Qali biex ituha lil tal business u fil-waqt gabuha mizbla! Pajjiz gabuh mizbla ma kullimkien u kullhadd kawt! Pajjiz mlewh bil-barrani halli dawn ikomplu jsostnu l business u minhabba fihom lanqas tal-linja ma nistghu nuzaw! Morru ghamlu uzu min tal-linja w tindunaw!! U kullhadd kawt! Pajjiz mizbla ma kullimkien lanqas nistghu nkunu aghar u smajt lil Mark Zammit tat Times li kelli hafna hopes fih jghid li qeghdin fl aqwa zmien u qatt ma konna daqshekk tajbin! Unbelievable! Kullhadd mixtri jew ma nafx!!