Mediterranean Observer
The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) commends the initiative announced by Minister for Home Affairs, Security and Employment Glenn Bedingfield to introduce on-the-spot fines for cannabis-related offences involving tourists, describing it as a practical measure to strengthen enforcement and promote responsible tourism.
MHRA President Tony Zahra stated:
“The real value of on-the-spot fines is not in collecting penalties, but in preventing offences. Visible police presence, immediate action and prompt response when assistance is requested are essential. When people see the law being enforced, the deterrent effect is far greater.
Quality tourism cannot be achieved through taxation alone. It requires effective destination management, responsible behaviour and respect for our communities. Enjoy & Respect must become a guiding principle for everyone visiting Malta.”
MHRA also calls for Malta to become an international hub for sharing best practices in tourism safety and security, bringing together police forces, civil protection services, emergency responders and international experts to exchange knowledge, develop preventive strategies and explore how artificial intelligence, smart surveillance technologies, predictive analytics and real-time monitoring systems can help anticipate risks, prevent unruly tourist behaviour and enable faster, more effective responses, with appropriate safeguards for privacy and civil liberties.
The Association believes that closer cooperation between security services, tourism operators and local communities, supported by AI-driven innovation and international expertise, is essential to building safer, more resilient and better-managed destinations.
“This is how we can truly make Malta more attractive to discerning, higher-value tourists — not simply by increasing costs, but by delivering a safer, better-managed and more enjoyable destination that respects its residents and rewards responsible visitors,” Zahra concluded.
