Sheer magic

The largest and most beautiful theatre in the world... This is how one person described Valletta on Saturday during Notte Magica. Our capital city has proved yet again its worth, welcoming people by the thousands for six hours of entertainment and shopping. This event was a success on all counts.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who worked to make Notte Magica a success. The magical mood we created could not have happened without your support. The list of people involved is endless. In particular, I would like to mention Paul Borg Olivier, mayor of Valletta, and John Rizzo, Commissioner of Police.

Their support was a crucial part of the success formula, and is highly appreciated. Through the Commissioner of Police, I would like to thank the Police Corps for its service, which was really exceptional.

This event is another initiative by my ministry to transform Valletta into a centre of excellence in the spheres of arts, culture and commerce. Over the past years we have established a varied calendar of events centred around the Grand Harbour area. The success we are having proves that there is potential for more. As a government we will continue to work to realise this potential.

For this event, the ministry teamed up with NnG Promotions. We worked together to put into effect some of the lessons we learnt from Notte Bianca. The surveys we had conducted showed we needed to improve access to Valletta and that more catering outlets were needed for such large-scale events.

Thanks to the efforts of the Malta Transport Authority and the Public Transport Association we ensured an efficient public transport system to and from Valletta. We also created sea links from Sliema and Vittoriosa. Over the coming days we will be carrying out a survey to measure how many people took our suggestion to use public transport on the night of the event. The first reactions I heard from people who used the public transport were very favourable. Again, my thanks go to all those who worked to ensure a smooth and efficient service.

Speaking of an efficient service, I must also mention the Civil Protection Department and medical response teams on site who acted swiftly and efficiently whenever required.

My thanks and appreciation go also to all the artistes who performed on the night, as well as to all those who worked behind the scenes. Notte Magica showcased some of the best of what we have to offer in popular entertainment. The fact that we have so many talented artistes in all genres of music is something to be proud of... from band marches to rock music, we have it all.

The business community responded favourably to our request for longer opening hours. It was a pleasure to see the shops filled with customers during such late hours. I hope the business community becomes even more proactive in creating events in Valletta.

What's next? I can assure you that your response encourages us to do more. As we did following Notte Bianca, we will analyse the outcome of this event to see what worked and what could have worked better. I would like to invite you to forward any comments you might have in this regard.

My final and, in a sense, most important word of thanks goes to all those who accepted our invitation to come to Valletta for Notte Magica. Without your participation there would have been no magic in Valletta. You came by the thousands... That created another unforgettable and unique experience... One of sheer magic.

Dr Zammit Dimech is Minister of Tourism and Culture.