Luciano Mulè Stagno, chief executive officer, Heritage Malta, Valletta
New museum fees sensitive to needs
The National Museum of Fine Arts in South Street, Valletta.
I refer to the letter by Glorianne Mizzi of the Malta Union of Tourist Guides (May 29). Heritage Malta, as the national agency for museums, conservation practice and cultural heritage, is entrusted with museums' management, operation and maintenance. Essentially Heritage Malta is the operator of no less than 23 museums and sites which are regularly open to the public besides fostering over 15 sites from which no income at all is derived.
Following a review of our entrance fees, which had not been changed since 2003, we brought these to realistic levels without losing sight of the role that museums play in our society.
Our rate structure was therefore revised bearing in mind the needs of all sectors of Maltese society. An example illustrating how sensitive Heritage Malta is to such needs are the school parties which are hosted at our museums and sites free of charge annually. Such visits cover no less than circa 40,000 students. Moreover, free open days are held throughout the year covering a number of museums e.g. Notte Bianca, Notte Gozitana and other similar events which attract no less than 25,000 visitors annually besides the thousands of visitors who avail themselves of free open days that are held periodically. For a modest annual €35 an adult can become a member enjoying unlimited access to over 20 museums and sites. This works out at under €2 per museum. Currently an offer is in place which allows a senior citizen to become a member for as little as €15.
With regard to tourism, here again Heritage Malta is well aware of the sensitivity of this sector and kept this well in mind when reviewing entrance fees. Essentially all that was done was the tidying up of fees e.g. the Palace Armoury the and Palace State Rooms were previously €4.66 each i.e. a total of €9.32. These sites will now have a single ticket priced at €10. In the case of The Palace Armoury the use of an audio guide is also included in the price.
Apart from the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, no ticket cost exceeds €10 and in the main this would include more than one site. For example in the case of Gozo an €8 ticket allows entry to four sites: Museum of Archaeology; Old Prisons; Folklore Museum; Gozo Nature Museum, whereas formerly the entrance fee stood at €2.33 per museum.
As for opening hours, since its inception Heritage Malta has extended its opening hours over seven days a week bringing these in line with those of major European cities, some of which even close one day a week.
Heritage Malta's revised entrance fees have remained at modest levels while comparing well with those of major European museums. Random comparisons with overseas museums and sites may be misleading as one must not overlook the specific demographics which differ radically from city to city and country to country. For example, the numbers that visit Stonehenge are far higher than those, say, of Ħagar Qim yet both are equally expensive to manage and to preserve.
In the light of the above it can therefore be safely said that our rates take into full consideration the sensitivity of the tourist market while also remaining well aware of our obligations to the Maltese public.
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F Rodrigo
Jun 6th 2009, 00:46
Perhaps the government should be providing HM with more funds?
John Carmel Navarro
Jun 5th 2009, 19:24
Do I take it that 'We are like in the Royal We' of Heritage Malta, sound you are speaking on behalf of an Organization or maybe you conducted a quick survey; honest believe reality in Malta most people need encouragement to visit our treasures not further hurdles, when I state repeatedly that it was a mistake I took into consideration what is going on in the world. I think the way forward with Malta Heritage has got to be obtaining further sponsorship and go cap in hand to the Government. Of course the half a dozen people who seem to agree with the increase are more than welcomed to support and visit these sites during every available moment, than you can tell the people who cannot afford to go all about it.
Franco Farrugia
Jun 5th 2009, 19:01
@ Clare Spiteri - I do not know who you are and I do not know what relationship you have with Heritage Malta, but you sure have spoken to people living in the clouds and cut off from reality, if they told you that they are ok with the hike in price and the effect that this will have on the further education and conscience-raising of our people. At least, I speak for myself, and do not bring people into it.
clare spiteri
Jun 5th 2009, 17:29
well done Heritage. Most of the people we spoke agree with the very modest rises.Keep up the good work
Franco Farrugia
Jun 5th 2009, 13:58
Again, I completely disagree with your conclusion: you are simply ignorant of what the Maltese public needs. The Maltese public needs every possible encourgement to go and visit museums and places of such interest. The Maltese public needs to be taught. The Maltese public need every possible excuse to visit these museum and to have appropriate guides to teach and to help the visitors. Abroad, prices are relatively lower than in Malta. You explain this phenomenon by bringing the excuse that abroad there are much more visitors and hence the earnings are much higher. Sorry: but tough! You cannot expect the citizens of Malta to make up for this. So, the citizens are facing nothing but disadvantages by living in a small country!
Franco Farrugia
Jun 5th 2009, 13:55
New museum fees sensitive to needs - nothing can be further from the truth. Mr Mule' Stagno would do well to consider that the needs of the citizens of this country is to interest themselves in their history. By increasing the fees, they have made it more and more difficult for them to visit museums and sites. You claim that fees had not been revised since 2003: well, big deal! I thought you were going to mention a much further year! You mention various free openings - sorry, that's not enough! You claim that the fee of EUR 35.00 is 'modest'. With all due respect, YOU say so, and I say so, maybe. But John Citizen does not see it as so, especially when this sum has to be paid at once. According to the Maltese mentality, it is too expensive for museums - I do not adhere to this mentality but as long as such a mentality prevails, we have to make museums more accessible. You should be proud, sir, to have done exactly the opposite.
Mark Sammut
Jun 5th 2009, 13:34
The most visited museum in the world seems to be Tate Modern in London - does it have better art than MOMA or Louvre? No, its free. It makes money from the cafes and shops as well as exposing millions to art. What do you want from a museum revenue or to inform your audience? When you decide set your fee or not.
John Carmel Navarro
Jun 5th 2009, 12:34
It is very commendable that Malta Heritage via their Chief Executive Officer tried to justify the increases, I do not think that there has ever been any dispute that to keep such sites is very expensive to maintain but as in other Countries outside funding is of paramount importance. The argument that Museums abroad charge less because they have more visitors unfortunately is very weak; culture should be available for everybody rather to those who can afford to pay. This is where Countries who open their Museums free to the public are genuine in their ideal. I can speak from my own personal situation this summer a number of close relatives and friends are visiting me mainly from a Sterling Area, it is highly unlikely that they would want to visit any Heritage Site due to the cost involved. What is overlooked is the overall cost of let us say a standard family of four, the time is now and I repeat raising entrance costs in the present financial climate was just a big mistake. I can guarantee it is going to have an adverse effect in what you are trying to achieve, less visitors can be the only outcome.
Charles Falzon
Jun 5th 2009, 11:07
Heritage Malta.
Keep up the good work.
Thank You.