Not so long ago MTA officials visited various catering establishments all over Malta ordering owners to remove their outside furniture, plants etc. causing a lot of unnecessary stress to the owners. Once again the same officials are now calling at catering establishments, this time giving them orders to remove umbrellas, canopies etc. that have an advertisement on them.
This unusual request from the Malta Tourist Authority comes at a time when the industry is facing a lot of uncertainty and the future of catering employees looks bleak. Is this move by the MTA really necessary? The beverage companies, trying hard to make ends meet, will be facing an extremely difficult task, as owners of catering establishments will have no option but to call their suppliers to collect the umbrellas, canopies and anything that carries an advertisement on it.
The MTA's advertising budget has been increased, yet local companies who invested thousands of euro in advertising material are being denied the right to promote their product.
Mario de Demarco owes us an explanation.