The government has announced a series of new enforcement measures targeting tourism hotspots, including on-the-spot fines for tourists, stricter short-let accommodation rules, upgraded surveillance systems in Swieqi and noise monitoring technology in Valletta, the government said in a statement.
The measures were announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism Minister Ian Borg and Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri during a visit to Swieqi on Tuesday.
The measures form part of a tourism community support pilot project launched in 2025 to balance tourism activity with residents' wellbeing and address concerns raised by local councils regarding public order, short-let accommodation and related issues.
Among the measures announced was the upgrading of Swieqi's surveillance camera system, funded by the Malta Tourism Authority in collaboration with the local council.
The system will include 30 cameras installed in strategic locations across the locality, with parts of the network equipped with pan-tilt-zoom technology and monitored around the clock by LESA officials through its control centre, the statement said.
The surveillance network will also form part of a wider monitoring system extending to Paceville and St Julian's.
The government also announced the installation of noise monitoring systems in four of Valletta's busiest streets to help police identify excessive noise, particularly during the night.
The sound pressure monitoring system, which will initially be installed in Republic Street, Merchants Street, Strait Street and St Paul's Street, will automatically alert police when excessive noise levels are detected, the statement said.
The government said that the system will not record voices or conversations and will only detect sound levels.
Another measure announced was the introduction of new electric vehicles for community policing operations in areas with high tourism activity.
The vehicles were funded through eco-contributions paid by tourists visiting Malta and Gozo.
The government also announced that from 1 June, police officers, LESA officials and officers from the Environment and Resources Authority will be able to issue on-the-spot fines to foreign nationals who do not reside in Malta, including tourists, if they breach Maltese laws.
The fines will allow immediate electronic payment collection and are intended to address cases where foreign nationals fail to settle penalties issued against them, the statement said.
The measures will be introduced through a legal notice issued by the Home Affairs Ministry.
The government also referred to new tourism accommodation regulations coming into force this summer, introducing stricter conditions for short-let properties.
Owners of short-let accommodations will be required to display the property's licence number and a 24/7 contact number outside the entrance to allow complaints to be addressed more efficiently.
According to the statement, short-let operators will also need to implement waste collection management plans, while owners operating without a valid MTA licence could face a three-year disqualification in addition to other penalties.
The government said it would continue working with local councils and other ministries as part of the pilot project, with the possibility of extending the initiative to other localities in the future.
Borg said the measures are intended to support more sustainable tourism while improving quality of life for residents living in tourism-heavy areas.
"As we continue guiding our tourism stakeholders towards more sustainable and higher-value tourism activities, we also want to make sure that our communities can also reap the benefits of this important industry," Borg said.
Camilleri said the measures are intended to strengthen proactive enforcement and maintain Malta's safety standards.
"All these projects, legal amendments and initiatives are aimed at continuing to ensure a safe Malta," Camilleri said.