Applications for nine boutique hotels in Valletta have been approved out of 14 submitted, Parliamentary Secretary Michael Falzon said in Parliament this evening.

He said the applications were a sign of the rejuvenation of Valletta.

Dr Falzon was replying to questions by Nationalist MP Claudio Grech who expressed concern for residents about the designation of part of Street for late night activities.

Dr Falzon said practically no one lived in the designated area, although it was true that there were residents in the periphery. He said the idea was to concentrate culture-related activities near residences and other activities away from them.

A balance had to be struck if Valletta was to come alive and not just be a museum, he said. Indeed, much progress had been made in breathing life into Valletta over the past 19 months.