Regular clean-ups in tourist zones

The Malta Tourism Authority is spending Lm35,000 over the summer to wash the promenades in Mellieha, Cirkewwa, Bugibba, Qawra, Paceville, Sliema, Gzira, Marsaxlokk and Birzebbuga.

Moreover, the authority spends Lm41,000 to help a number of local councils clean up their locality twice a day between Thursday and Sunday, Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said yesterday.

The government, he said, was doing its utmost to give the island a better look and improve the product that was being offered.

Speaking during a visit to the Clean Up The Seas Campaign at Independence Gardens in Sliema in the evening, the minister stressed that everyone's help was needed to improve the island, and he appealed to people to help keep the country cleaner. Doing so would be contributing to a better life for residents and tourists alike.

The minister said Valletta and the Grand Harbour area is one of six tourist zones that have been identified for embellishment works.

The other five are: Sliema, St Julians and Paceville; Bugibba, Qawra, Mellieha, Golden Bay and Marfa; Mdina, Rabat, Dingli, Ta' Qali and Buskett; Gozo and the coastal waters.

Dr Zammit Dimech said the pre-budget document issued recently by the Prime Minister stressed that these zones need to be given priority to remove the perception that Malta has five-star facilities in a two-star environment.

He said the recently upgraded St George's Bay should be a model for other beaches around the island. There would be a similar project in Bugibba, he added.