Ta’ Qali crafts village establishments that remained open during the peak of works over the past 14 months suffered greatly during this period, GRTU - Malta Chamber of SMEs CEO Abigail Mamo told the Malta Independent.

Both the union and the government need to start pushing to attract more tourists to the area, Mamo explained.

Speaking with The Malta Independent Abigail Mamo explained that the union and the commercial enterprises that operate in Ta’ Qali appreciate the scale of the project, and the fact that it was undertaken. “At the end of the day everyone needs patience and needs to bear with ongoing works while giving the government space to conduct the project. Commercial interests were put aside in order to for priority to be given to the area’s infrastructure and to the project.”

She stressed that when one hits the pause button however, things do not just automatically restart. “There was a time when tour operators would bring tourists to the area, and seeing the construction site considered the area off the map for the foreseeable future. We as the union and the government need to make everyone aware that, while the project is not 100% complete, it is already much better than it was originally and more fit to attract and accommodate tourists.”

“Over 20 of the businesses there remained open throughout the works. We are very big believers in this project, and believe that it is worthwhile and will make a difference.”

In March this year, Economy Minister, Chris Cardona inaugurated the first phase of the crafts village, with a €13 million investment. He had said that the project’s second phase will be complete by the operators, with their investment in the building of factories and shops. The whole project, Cardona had said, will be complete next year. He had said that the site had undergone a total regeneration and a lot of work was undertaken for the project to finally become a reality. Works included creating a modern infrastructure and facilities as well as services and landscaping. All the infrastructural works were carried out by Malta Industrial Parks

The GRTU’s recent newsletter, Newstring, carried an article stating that the Ta’ Qali Tenants Voluntary Organisation met for its general meeting to discuss the matters that will put forward the organisation and Ta’ Qali as a Village

“The Village works have now been ongoing for 14 months and since the start of works business in Ta’ Qali has been very bad. Unfortunately the over 20 establishments that were open for business during this period, who had to remain open in order to retain their employees, suffered greatly during this time “

The tenants recognised the great improvements that Ta’Qali has undergone, however noted that the benefits of these improvements, “apart from the aesthetics, are not being felt since the Village is not yet functional. Lack of adequate signage, functioning public convenience, closed up recreational areas are aspects that need to be seen to immediately to be able to start making use of the facilities in the village and start welcoming tourists,” the newsletter read.

Months after the works on the common areas are complete, the report reads, “tenants expect the disruption to be brought to a bare minimum. The Crafts Village should be gearing up for business as usual. It is understandable that because works on the individual plots are still ongoing there is a level of inconvenience that is to be expected, the situation has however now become untenable. A collective effort needs to be put in place to carry out the necessary ‘final’ touches and start to target tourists aggressively to get activity back into the village. If Ta' Qali remains in the state it is, tenants will have no incentive to fast track and finish off their works.”