Valletta lagging behind in cultural facilities satisfaction

Valletta, the designated European capital of culture in 2018, is the only EU capital city where considerably fewer than half of surveyed respondents say they are satisfied with their cultural facilities. 

Only 16% of Valletta residents are “very satisfied” with cultural facilities while 14% are rather satisfied. Overall the percentage of people satisfied with cultural facilities has dropped from 37% in 2012 to 34%.

In 18 EU capitals the level of satisfaction with cultural facilities is above 80%. The highest ratings are seen in Vienna (97%) and Helsinki (94%). 

Valletta is among the 10 lowest ranked of the 83 European cities surveyed when it comes to agreeing with the statement that the presence of foreigners is a good thing for their city.

Around half of respondents in Valletta (51%) agree that the presence of foreigners is a good thing for their city. A slightly higher proportion agree that foreigners who live in the city are well integrated (53%). 

Respondents in Valletta are now less likely than in 2012 to agree that the presence of foreigners is good for the city (-7 percentage points). 

There has been no significant change in agreement that foreigners in the city are well integrated. 

Valletta is close to the middle of the ranking of the European cities regarding the statement that foreigners in their city are well integrated. 

Valletta also scored badly with regard to satisfaction with the state of streets and buildings with fewer than half of respondents (46%) saying they are satisfied.  

Residents of Valletta express mixed views about various aspects of their city. Respondents are most likely to be satisfied with retail shops in their city (84%). Satisfaction is also relatively high regarding health care services (67%) and schools (65%). 

However, fewer than half of respondents are satisfied with public spaces (41%), sports facilities (44%), public transport (46%) and streets and buildings (46%). Just one in five respondents living in Valletta (20%) agree that it is easy to find a job in the city. 

Valletta features in the lower half of the ranking of 83 cities surveyed on this issue. 

The perceived job situation in Valletta has not changed significantly from the previous surveys, in 2009 and 2012. 

Fewer than half of respondents living in Valletta (44%) agree that it is easy to find good housing at a reasonable price in the city. 

Valletta is in the top half of the ranking of the 83 European cities surveyed on this issue. 

Around four in five residents of Valletta say that they feel safe in their city (79%). A similar proportion agree that they feel safe in their neighbourhood (78%). 

Valletta is in the bottom half of the ranking of the 83 cities surveyed, with regard to feeling safe in the neighbourhood. It is close to the middle of the ranking with regard to feeling safe in the city as a whole. 

Satisfaction with public transport in Valletta is the second lowest among the 84 European cities surveyed. The level of satisfaction with public transport varies significantly between EU capitals. 

Four EU capitals are among the top 10 cities in terms of satisfaction: Vienna, Helsinki, Prague and London. However, four EU capitals are among the 10 cities with the lowest levels of satisfaction: Rome, Lefkosia, Valletta and Bucharest. 

Respondents living in Valletta perceive air pollution as the most important issue facing their city (mentioned by 54% of respondents). Road infrastructure ranks as the second most important perceived issue (43%), followed by health services (33%). 

Valletta is one of only five cities in the survey as a whole where air pollution ranks as the most important issue facing the city.