Lap dancing clubs will come under scrutiny as the government plans to regulate their operations, Konrad Mizzi said.

The Tourism Minister identified the clubs, particularly their hard-sell marketing techniques, as one of the problems facing Paceville.

Lap dancing clubs have mushroomed in the entertainment hot spot. They use women on the street to distribute flyers trying to entice men to enter the clubs.

Dr Mizzi said regulations will be introduced in this legislature. He did not elaborate.

The clubs have always operated in a legal lacuna since licensing has never catered for this brand of entertainment.

Dr Mizzi was speaking at Balluta this morning where he launched plans to have tourism town managers.

Paceville will be the first to get the new treatment.

Apart from the unregulated gentlemen's clubs, Paceville had problems of upkeep and cleansing, Dr Mizzi added.