GRTU says Malta should strengthen its position as an entertainment destination

The GRTU Malta Chamber of SMEs has expressed its support for and agreement with the organization of activities such as the Lost & Found festival held in Malta over the past weekend.

“Whilst GRTU does not believe that such events should become an every-day norm, it believes however that Malta should strengthen its position as an entertainment destination both in terms of refinement and growth,” the chamber said in a statement issued earlier today.

The statement comes after residents of the Qawra area – where the festival was centred – complained to local media that the festival had caused disturbances and discomfort due to a lack of security, and the general raucousness of party-goers.

The GRTU, however, defended events like the festival and said that “events such as these offer opportunities that Maltese enterprises, especially those in the leisure industry, and the country as a whole cannot afford to miss out on.”

“The Lost & Found event has placed Malta on the international calendar of events and its well over 8,000 patrons have generated strong economic activity during a usually very quiet period for the industry,” it said, adding that the GRTU welcomes such activities and encourages greater initiatives by both local and foreign operators for the organisation of festivals and activities in Malta that are always very popular with Maltese and foreigners alike and are very well received by the business community.

The chamber added that the scale of the event requires the involvement of a large number of local operators, many of which are not directly linked to the event, but benefit due to proximity as well as through the provision of goods and services to those attending the festival. 

“Like any other large scale activity the event was bound to cause a degree of nuisance and incidents, however these should not dampen the overall positive contribution,” the group added.

The GRTU further suggests a greater level of dialogue between the organisers, the authorities, the local council and representatives of the private sector prior to such events taking place in order to secure a better outcome for all the stakeholders.

“GRTU takes the opportunity to congratulate the organizers and everybody involved in the organisation of the event and calls for greater tolerance and support by the general public.”