Ta’ Soldi Restaurant in Mgarr was recently awarded a prestigious prize by the Spanish publishing house Editorial Ofice.

The Spanish Editorial Ofice set up The Trade Leaders Club in Madrid in 1978 and brought together over 7,000 enterprises specialising in production and services in 120 countries.

The Trade Leaders Club was set up to acknowledge and give companies the recognition they deserve by the publishing house and its foreign magazines.

Third parties nominate the candidates for the prize by the Editorial Ofice and Trade Leaders Club.

In fact, Ta’ Soldi Restaurant owner Mario Gatt did not know he had won the prestigious prize and was requested to attend the prize-giving ceremony held in Madrid.

Tourism and Culture Minister Francis Zammit Dimech, together with Parliamentary Secretary Edwin Vassallo, were present at Ta’ Soldi Restaurant when Mr Gatt was informed about the prize.

Food is an important component of advertising for Malta’s tourism, said Dr Zammit Dimech. “Its careful preparation and presentation will lead tourists to choose Malta over other destinations.” Malta, he said, is doing its utmost to constantly raise the tourism product in an increasingly competitive environment.

“It is the government’s policy to divert the tourism market to niche areas other than sun, sand and sea,” added Dr Zammit Dimech. “Over 44 per cent of tourists are attracted by the sun and sea combination, but we must continue our work in other sectors to attract more tourists.”