Editorial

In less than two years since its establishment Heritage Malta has transformed the image of Malta's museums and heritage sites from that of somewhat nonchalantly run units into places where new attention is given and maintained to the giving of service to the customer, whether this be a schoolboy or a tourist.

With a chief executive officer having an impeccable background in business and industry, Heritage Malta is trying hard not just to prevent its multiplicity of sites from being a burden on the state but also to make them profitable if possible, thus earning income that will make further development possible.

It has had some impressive successes in persuading Maltese businesses as well as foreign and international corporations to sponsor its projects for carrying out essential research or enabling conservation/preservation to be carried out. Like all the best corporations in the public sphere, its aim is to justify the considerable degree of freedom it enjoys from the burdens of civil service bureaucracy by lightening the state's financial commitment.

Recently it announced it had raised entrance fees to museums and other heritage sites from Lm1 to Lm2, that it stopped free entrance once a month and that it was abolishing the group ticket allowing visitors to visit several sites, thus making it necessary for visitors to buy a ticket for each site. This measure has been resorted to in order to cover the financial gap between Heritage Malta's state subvention of Lm850,000 and its salary bill of Lm1.5 million and have a little left over for general recurrent costs but it has met with some disapproval.

Some people in the tourist industry, for instance, feel that at a time when Malta is trying desperately to attract more good-class tourists by means of Malta's cultural treasures it is not wise to make it more expensive for visitors to tour museums. A visitor and indeed a Maltese citizen wishing to visit, say, the National Museum of Archaeology, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Armoury will now have to spend Lm6 on three tickets, when until recently they could have done this by buying one cheap ticket.

Though one cannot but sympathise with Heritage Malta's desire to be more profitable and thus less of a financial burden, it is possible that the new policy may lead to a reduction in the number of visitors, thus thwarting Heritage Malta's plans.

It might be a good move for it to discuss with the Federation of Associations of Travel Tourism Agents, with whom it has a good relationship, ways to reduce the impact on visitors, such as keeping the new Lm2 fee just for tickets admitting the visitor to two or more sites. It should also consider withdrawing its decision to halt free entry to sites and museums one day a month, a decision that is affecting a good many of our people who can be induced to visit a museum only if they do not have to pay.

Heritage Malta's wish to set up a volunteers' cooperative, however, cannot but enjoy all round support. Its 240 employees do not suffice to enable it to keep all its sites open as long as it would like and this despite the fact that Heritage Malta has led the way for the public service by abolishing half-days in summer for its staff.

There must be many public-spirited people, whether middle-aged housewives or elderly pensioners, who would be interested in helping the country by manning heritage sites part of the time.