Malta has almost 1,000 restaurants

The licensing administration section of the Malta Tourism Authority last year received 1,876 new applications for tourism related licences, including 130 for catering establishments, Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said.

He said Malta had 996 restaurants, which altogether provided around 42,000 covers.

He was speaking on efforts to promote Malta as a gastronomic centre when he opened a new restaurant at a roof garden at the Sliema multi-storey car park, the Fumia Restaurant, run by Guglielmo and Santa Fumia.

Dr Zammit Dimech said that good restaurants were an essential element in the tourism product and corresponded with the efforts that were being made to encourage high spending tourists.

He touched on the role of the Institute for Tourism Studies to train young people in food preparation, presentation and offering an efficient service.