Tourism needs a national strategy focused on quality, not quantity

What happened over the weekend during a three-day festival confirms what the Partit Nazzjonalista has long been stressing: that in the tourism sector, our country must aim for quality rather than quantity.

The Opposition understands that events of this kind are important for the tourism industry and that, in the vast majority of cases, organisers do everything possible to avoid causing inconvenience.

However, one cannot fail to condemn what took place, particularly the behaviour of a number of individuals which led to worrying breaches of public order and caused considerable inconvenience to others.

What happened at a food establishment in Paceville is also condemnable, as shown in footage circulated on social media depicting scenes that certainly do no credit to our country, Malta’s international reputation, or the image we want to project of the tourism product we seek to offer. Such behaviour also created a risk to the safety of staff and other people who had nothing whatsoever to do with what was taking place.

The Partit Nazzjonalista welcomes the responsible decision taken by the organisers to cancel the remaining parties that had been scheduled.

The Government and the relevant authorities must take all necessary steps to ensure that what happened is not repeated, to make certain that organisers of such events comply with the conditions attached to the permits they are granted, and to carry out a serious evaluation of the way public funding is allocated to similar activities. At the same time, all necessary measures must be taken to ensure that anyone who breaks the law is held accountable for their actions.

The Government must give priority to a clear strategy that provides direction towards quality tourism which generates greater value for the economy, including by attracting visitors who come to Malta for specific tourism niches such as culture, gastronomy, religious heritage, medical tourism and nature, among others.

As the MHRA has stated, episodes such as those witnessed in recent days undermine the work being carried out by stakeholders across the sector and weaken efforts to attract quality, higher-value tourism to Malta – tourism whose purpose should be to generate benefits for the economy and for Malta, rather than damage our country’s reputation.

The PN is calling on the Government to draw up, without further delay, a national Carrying Capacity Plan establishing what our country can sustain today and what it is expected to be able to sustain in the years ahead – across all areas, including tourism. We do not need more tourists at any cost, but quality tourism: greater value from every visitor, sustainability, infrastructure that can cope with demand, and a tourism product that offers visitors a better experience.

It is clear that our country needs a new strategy and a new model, including in this sector which is so important to our economy.

A model based on quality rather than quantity which, at the same time and as an essential element, also respects the quality of life of residents in Malta and Gozo.

Alex Perici Calascione
Shadow Minister for Tourism

15.09.2026