The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) said it is fully supportive of the objective to offer a quality product as the foundation to sustain quality tourism in Malta as being promoted by the Ministry of Tourism and as endorsed by stakeholders through the draft National Tourism Policy. 

MHRA has also hailed the regeneration of Valletta as a benchmark for our efforts to take Malta to the next level.   Indeed, MHRA has consistently stressed that the tourism industry must capitalise on our strengths by taking the decisions in favour of quality even if this means a change from what to date has been considered as the norm. 

This direction is necessary  as according to MHRA it is the only way to position our country at a level that can best present our unique product and more significantly differentiate Malta from other competitors thus ensuring  the continued success of our tourism sector in a dynamic and competitive international market. 

MHRA notes the positive direction Malta has adopted especially where places like Mdina,  The Three cities, and Valletta are concerned, however one must not let up on this road to quality.

Regrettably the decision to re-locate the ‘Monti’ at the new and elegant entrance of Valletta risks deviating our efforts from the attainment of the quality vision.   MHRA stresses that it is the plan to place the market at the main entrance of the Capital City, next to two important landmarks, and not just the design of the stalls which is taking us away from our quality vision.

MHRA is therefore asking Government to reconsider this decision and pursue further the vision that quality is set as the hallmark of our product without exception.  Government must remain focused on Malta becoming a centre of excellence and locating the Monti at the entrance to our Word Heritage city does not take us closer to achieving this vision.