I am writing with reference to new entrance fees for museums run by Heritage Malta that have been announced. The Malta Union of Tourist Guides would like to express its dismay at this sudden increase that will definitely have a negative impact on tours and jobs for licenced tourist guides. The increase will shoot prices of tours up and less visitors will purchase tour tickets thus registering a further decline in jobs for tourist guides. This year we are all struggling because of the economic crisis this is a further big blow.
The entrance fees for Heritage Malta sites have become amongst the most expensive sites in Europe. We have compiled a list of entrance fees for major visiting sites in major European countries for your reference:
Stonehenge, UK. Adult entrance fee £6.60. Visiting hours from 9.30am to 6pm.
Louvre Museum, France. Adult entrance fee E9. Visiting hours from 9pm to 6pm. Every Wednesday and Friday from 10am to 10pm.
Schonbrunn Palace, Austria. Adult entrance fee E9.50 for the Imperial Tour visiting 22 State Rooms. Visiting hours from 8.30am to 6pm.
Uffizi, Italy. Adult entrance fee E9.45. Visiting hours 8.30am to 7pm
Berlin Museuminsel, Germany. UNESCO World Heritage Site adult entrance fee E8 for five museums and exhibitions. Visiting hours from 10am to 6pm. Every Thursday from 10am to 8pm.
Acropolis, Greece. Adult entrance fee E12 for Acropolis site and museum, Ancient Agora, Theatre of Dionysos, Kerameikos, Olympieion, Roman Agora. Visiting hours from 8am to 6.30pm.
Heritage Malta sites offer limited opening hours when compared to the sites mentioned above moreover the fee should be proportional to what is being offered. Moreover it does not work towards making our history and culture accessible to all. We have on other occasions written about improving the visitors’ site experience; little if anything has been done.
Increasing entrance fees because of “capital projects and operational costs” does not make Heritage sites sustainable. Sustainable development “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. This decision further compromises jobs for tourist guides and tourism in Malta.
Glorianne Mizzi
Malta Union of Tourist Guides,
Floriana