The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association believes there are more illegal restaurants than the 70 mentioned by the tourism authorities. MHRA catering spokesman Matthew Pace described the Malta Tourism Authority’s official estimate as “conservative”, saying he was constantly receiving complaints of unlicensed operations.

He was reacting to a report in Times of Malta on the MTA’s estimate as well as its inability to regulate the irregular sector.

“This phenomenon is mostly restricted to illegal countryside establishments that offer the same fare of rabbit and traditional cuisine as restaurants in Mġarr and Rabat,” he said. "These illegal restaurants do not pay tax and are not subjected to the health and safety regulations licensed caterers are.

“This raises a number of concerns, both in terms of their effect on other restaurants and also on visiting and local diners,” he said.