Culture Minister Owen Bonnici does not see the need to cap the number of visitors to Malta's heritage sites.

When asked in an interview with this media house whether the increasing number of tourists poses risks to Malta's treasures, Bonnici defended the government's approach.

He acknowledged that sites such as the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum already impose entry limits but suggested that widespread capping may not be necessary.

"The more tourists visit our museums, the more money is left in our coffers to reinvest in heritage protection and the museums themselves," he said, adding that heritage must be protected at all costs.

He noted that dispersing events across different locations, such as holding New Year's Eve celebrations in both Valletta and the Cottonera region, helps manage crowds effectively.

Bonnici said this dispersion system can be used intelligently to safeguard heritage sites, but so far, the Ministry's experts have not suggested introducing a capping in sites such as Ggantija or Mnajdra.

With Malta becoming increasingly multicultural, Bonnici was asked how the government ensures that Malta's cultural heritage and identity remain protected.

"By investing in what makes us Maltese," he replied, citing the success of Muzika Muzika as an example of a show celebrating the Maltese language and talent.

He also spoke of the UNESCO recognition of Malta's festa as part of the country's intangible cultural heritage, alongside Carnival and the Maltese għana, which are all receiving increased government investment.

Bonnici spoke about concerns that the local arts, music and cultural scene tends to feature the same familiar faces, making it difficult for emerging artists to break through.

He mentioned a government initiative that has allocated €1m to NGOs and private organisations to organise and host rock concerts this year.

"Rather than organising the festival ourselves, which we could have easily done, we instead chose to invest €1m in NGOs through a public call. These NGOs will organise more than 45 rock concerts this year, selecting their own artists," Bonnici said, adding that 700 artists will benefit from the scheme.

He also noted that events such as Notte Bianca are structured to be as inclusive as possible for artists.

Bonnici reflected on the state of the sector when he took over as minister responsible for culture in 2020, saying that although previous ministers from both major political parties had worked hard to build a cultural ecosystem, investment, budget and infrastructure were still lacking.

"We revamped the Arts Council Malta, which has served as an incubator for new entities filling those gaps, such as Festivals Malta, Zfin Malta and Teatru Malta," he said.

He spoke of the ministry's efforts in internationalisation, mentioning a newly-created unit led by Annabelle Stivala Attard to spearhead this initiative.

Malta's participation in global events such as the Venice Biennale, the London Design Biennale, and now the Gwangju Biennale in South Korea this year is a testament to this strategy, Bonnici said.

"That is another opportunity for our artists to perform outside our shores," Bonnici said, adding that these efforts help export Maltese creativity abroad while also bringing international talent to Malta through, for example, the Malta International Contemporary Arts Space (MICAS) and the Malta Biennale.

Heritage sites are 'strongest selling point'

Responding to comments made to The Malta Independent by Heritage Malta CEO Noel Zammit that Malta's local plans need revision to better safeguard heritage sites, Bonnici acknowledged that built heritage is one of Malta's "strongest selling points".

"Independently from the local plans, I believe there is great awareness that aside from the fact that built heritage defines us as a country, it is also our golden egg, our biggest selling point," Bonnici said.

He spoke of the government's investment in the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage, which now employs significantly more staff than in 2013 and operates on a budget exceeding €2m.

Bonnici agreed that any improvement in the local plans that strengthens heritage protection is welcome, but he stressed the importance of investing in the people working in heritage protection.

He was asked specifically about the revocation of a planning permit for an apartment block near the Ġgantija Temples in Xagħra, Gozo.

He said that UNESCO-designated World Heritage Sites also imposes a management plan, which must be adhered to, as well as an entity which observes that plan.

The technical committee within the Ministry also ensures that all stakeholders involved in heritage protection are engaged in such cases, Bonnici said.

"In Ġgantija's case, everyone now knows that the permit was revoked," Bonnici said.

The first part of the interview was carried in The Malta Independent on Sunday yesterday