Sliema ticket booth crackdown put on hold after deal with operators

Enforcement action against illegal ticket booths on the Sliema promenade has been quietly put on hold after the council reached an agreement with operators.

Last month, Sliema council said it was moving against the booths on the popular promenade. It posted photos of community police officers attaching notices ordering operators to leave the promenade by April 16. Sources say none of the booths along the promenade are currently licensed.

But when Times of Malta visited the area, the booths were still in place and sellers were doing brisk business in tickets for boat parties and cruises to Comino’s Blue Lagoon.

Times of Malta counted around 30 ticket booths along the promenade from Gżira to Sliema, with most clustered near Sliema ferries.

Only one booth displayed an enforcement notice, left flapping in the breeze as business carried on around it.

Asked why no action had been taken, one seller said operators had reached an agreement with the local council to continue operating.

The council confirmed they met with operators in a meeting mediated by the Tourism Ministry and said the planned enforcement action was “temporarily suspended”.

The council said an agreement “in principle” had been reached to reduce the number of ticket booths along The Strand, though talks are continuing.

“All operators are ultimately expected to comply with the applicable bye-laws and regulations governing the promenade area,” a spokesperson said.

The Malta Tourism Authority said its role was in a supportive capacity.

“MTA is informed that the Tourism Ministry mediated discussions between the Sliema council and booth operators,” it said.

“The two sides reached an agreement on the booth amounts and positions. In this regard, the authority is willing to support the local council in its implementation of this agreement.”

Only one booth was displaying an enforcement notice. Photos: James Cummings

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And another suggested that after meeting with the council, the operators simply removed the notices themselves.

Another trader said the deal may cover the design of new ticket booths to replace the existing stalls and ensure the appearance of stalls along the promenade is consistent.

Most currently feature different branding, with many – particularly booths describing themselves as ‘tourist information centres’ – displaying adverts for multiple companies. The closest thing to uniformity comes from sheer repetition as brands such as iSeeMalta brand, Luzzu Cruises and Supreme appear again and again.

While most vendors who spoke to Times of Malta seemed understanding of concerns about the presence of traders along the promenade, they all expressed worries about their livelihoods should authorities decide to crack down on the practice.

They also pointed to other issues in the area, namely dog mess on the pavement and construction illegalities, questioning why they were being singled out while authorities appeared not to crack down on those other issues.

While the local council post last month showed community police officers putting up the enforcement notices, the initiative is led and managed by the local council, with the police acting in a supporting capacity.

Some 30 booths line the promenade.