The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) has welcomed plans to introduce on-the-spot fines for cannabis-related offences involving tourists, saying that visible police enforcement and immediate action are essential to deterring offences and ensuring Malta remains a safe and attractive destination.

In a statement, the association welcomed the initiative announced by Home Affairs, Security and Employment Minister Glenn Bedingfield, describing it as a practical measure to strengthen enforcement and promote responsible tourism.

MHRA president Tony Zahra said the effectiveness of such fines should be measured by their ability to prevent offences rather than the amount of money collected through penalties.

"The real value of on-the-spot fines is not in collecting penalties, but in preventing offences. Visible police presence, immediate action and prompt response when assistance is requested are essential. When people see the law being enforced, the deterrent effect is far greater," Zahra said.

"Quality tourism cannot be achieved through taxation alone. It requires effective destination management, responsible behaviour and respect for our communities. Enjoy & Respect must become a guiding principle for everyone visiting Malta."

The association also called for Malta to establish itself as an international hub for sharing best practices in tourism safety and security, bringing together police forces, civil protection services, emergency responders and international experts to exchange knowledge and develop preventive strategies.

MHRA said such cooperation should also explore how artificial intelligence, smart surveillance technologies, predictive analytics and real-time monitoring systems could help anticipate risks, prevent unruly behaviour among tourists and enable faster and more effective responses.

It said that the use of such technologies should be accompanied by appropriate safeguards to protect privacy and civil liberties.

The association said closer cooperation between security services, tourism operators and local communities, supported by AI-driven innovation and international expertise, was essential to developing safer, more resilient and better-managed tourist destinations.

"This is how we can truly make Malta more attractive to discerning, higher-value tourists - not simply by increasing costs, but by delivering a safer, better-managed and more enjoyable destination that respects its residents and rewards responsible visitors," Zahra concluded.