Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis yesterday inaugurated restoration works on the façade of the Wignacourt Tower in St Paul’s Bay and the nearby beachpost. The works cost €100,000.

The tower was built in 1610 by the knights while the beach post was built during the Second World War. Both served as anti-invasion defensive structures during the war.

Dr Zammit Lewis said the sites were restored to improve the cultural and tourism product in the north of Malta and to attract investment to the area.

It will complement other projects carried out in recent years in the area, including the promenade and the national aquarium.

The tourism minister said the government is working, within the context of the new tourism strategy, to improve the zone’s touristic product. Other works in the area include the replacement of benches along the promenade as part of a €150,000 renovation project, the maintenance of metal railings along the coast and the opening of a tourist information office. 

The St Paul’s Bay area is an important part of Malta’s tourism sector and any investment there is an investment in the national economy, the Minister said.

Dr Zammit Lewis said the improvement of the touristic product does not depend solely on government investment but also on a collective effort by touristic operators, local councils and the public in general. He praised NGOs like Din l-Art Helwa, who work tirelessly, and voluntarily, to preserve Malta’s historical and cultural heritage. This is not the only project in which the government is helping NGO Din l-Art Helwa, Dr Zammit Lewis said. The statue of St Paul on St Paul’s Island will also be restored in the coming months.