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”, insisting he was constantly receiving complaints of unlicensed operations.
“This estimate is very conservative. I am sure there are more unlicensed operations across the island,” he said.
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.
Mr Pace said many of MHRA’s members were being negatively affected by the number of illegal restaurants mushrooming across the island.
“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.
The illegal restaurants don’t pay tax and aren’t subjected to the health and safety regulations that licensed caterers are
The MTA carries out regular inspections on catering establishments but is only authorised to monitor licensed premises. Chairman Gavin Gulia had said he was looking into the possibility of having a new law to extend the MTA’s remit to control the burgeoning illegal fenkata industry.
Mr Pace, however, said that the MHRA had already raised the issue a number of times, including during a seminar held in 2012.
Back then, the association had made suggestions to the MTA and the planning authority on ways to resolve the unregulated sector but not much was ever done.
Questions sent to Tourism Minister Karmenu Vella and Planning Parliamentary Secretary Michael Farrugia remained unanswered at the time of writing.
Mr Pace did not condemn the unregulated establishments or their owners.
On the contrary, he felt that regulating them could be the best way forward.
“This is a matter of demand and supply,” he said.
“Clearly, there is a demand for these establishments and this appears to be growing.
“These, therefore, are part of the local market.
“The problem is that some are willing to be regularised while others aren’t or, perhaps, can’t be.”
The issue will be among the topics of discussion at the MHRA’s next seminar in May.