Marina Street in Marsascala will be closed to traffic on the three nights from Friday 5 to Sunday 7 September from 6pm till midnight, as part of a pilot project.
This was announced by Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Mario de Marco together with Marsascala local council members as well as representatives of the Marsascala Bars and Restaurants Association yesterday. The pedestrian zone will stretch from La Playa Restaurant to Mifsud Bonnici Square situated close to the playground.
While Marina Street (or Triq ix-Xatt) will be pedestrianised and decorated with plants and other street furnishings, St Anne Street, the road parallel to it, will be opened on a two-way traffic system.
The activity is being held in conjunction with the festivities of Marsascala week. Entertainment will be provided by the Marsascala council and establishment owners with the aim of creating an attraction for both tourists and residents of the area. To address the parking problem, a park and ride system will be organised for people to park near the Park of Friendship and take a shuttle service to the village core at no charge.
“This project should bring to light the authentic characteristic of the southern seaside area of Malta,” Dr de Marco said. He explained that although the Jerma Palace Hotel had closed down one year ago, Marsascala still held a very strong potential for the development of tourism.
“The area will see the development of a number of five and four- star hotels as well as embellishment of the seaside area,” he said.
Marsascala mayor Mario Calleja pointed out that the SmartCity project would push forward tourism in the locality and a number of other foreign investors were setting their eyes for potential future development.
“The need for a pedestrian zone in the area has been felt for a long time,” said president of Marsascala Bars and Restaurants Association, Reuben Buttigieg.
“Residents too understand our initiatives with feedback being forthcoming through the website: www. marsaskala.org.”
The idea behind the whole project is for it to be extended to summer weekends, if it proves to be successful.