Vandalism, attack incidents harming tourism - MHRA

Incidents such as the vandalism at Foresta 2000 and the youth gang in Gzira were a threat to tourism, the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association said.

In a statement it urged the government to take immediate, drastic steps to ensure the youth gang incident was not repeated.

The gang have been reported to the police as regularly attacking other young people without provocation.

“Malta enjoys a reputation amongst tourists as being a safe place, free from mugging and attacks of this nature.

“Clearly this style of gang activity witnessed in some countries, has through the media now produced a copycat effect locally,” the MHRA said.

It said that the perpetrators must be caught and an example should be made out of them to prevent the mentality of vandalism from taking seed in the Maltese islands.

Both incidents, the MHRA said, indicated a lack of civil pride and a warped sense of strength and arrogance fostered in some through irresponsible sayings and acts of others, who had to bear responsibility for the end result.

“Once again we urge the Maltese government to take the appropriate measures immediately to safeguard tourism in Malta and indeed to safeguard the quality of life to the Maltese.”