Mixed reaction to fees rise for heritage sites visits

The hike in entrance fees to heritage sites in Malta will lead to lower attendances, according to the majority of those voting in an on-line poll for The Times.

With a total of 1,267 votes, 58.3 per cent said the increase in entrance prices would deter people from visiting the sites, while a third of respondents believe there will be no change.

Somehow, 7.8 per cent actually believe the increase will lead to more visitors.

Heritage Malta recently announced it had raised entrance fees to museums and other heritage sites from Lm1 to Lm2, that it stopped free entrance once a month and that it was abolishing the group ticket to visit several sites, therefore making it necessary for visitors to buy a ticket for each site.

This measure has been resorted to in order to cover the financial gap between Heritage Malta's state subvention of Lm850,000 and its salary bill of Lm1.5 million.

Many who passed their comments to the on-line survey did not mince their words, lambasting the decision as detrimental to tourism.

"Well done to all those concerned for keeping as many tourists away from the island as possible. Another insane decision," one respondent charged.

Another male voter said the proposed increase in ticket prices defied all reason.

"It's like first exhorting the nutritional value of healthy products and giving out free samples - and then doubling their costs for the consumer," he argued.

Several made the point that the increase in the tariff would have been justified if this were coupled by a parallel improvement in service.

"I cannot understand how raising the entrance fees and still facing poor standards inside is ever going to improve the situation. I refuse to pay Lm2 for an amateur service," was the blunt comment of one respondent.

Another said she felt ashamed after recently visiting Hagar Qim and Mnajdra with some foreign friends since there was no information whatsoever about the temples.

A number of voters had no objection to the ticket hike but had strong reservations about charging the Maltese.

"Parents and families cannot afford this hike. This is a disservice to culture," one male voter said.

One woman said she agreed with an increase in ticket prices to bring them in line with museums overseas, but she lamented that some of the heritage places in Malta were nothing short of a disgrace.