Malta events: ‘We need a plan by this week to be able to restart next month. Time is running out’

A broad campaign grouping together stakeholders within Malta’s events, clubs and entertainment sector, Re-start, has cautioned the authorities that a plan for the industry must be shared by this week so that activities may restart next month.

In May, authorities angered members of the events sector when it announced Malta had achieved herd immunity, and, with almost all economic sectors and niches being given a reopening plan, events and parties had been left in the dark.

Responding to mounting pressure, at the end of May, Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Chris Fearne revealed that it was in talks with Malta’s Curia, the Malta Entertainment Industry and Arts Association (MEIA) as well as other cultural stakeholders to see how from July onwards “limited and controlled” social and cultural activities can recommence.

He said that such activities will be open to vaccinated persons with a valid local vaccine certificate.

Despite the glimmer of hope, the authorities have shared no details on what a restart to events may look like.

“While all other industries are open for business or have a plan, the entertainment industry is literally the only sector kept in the dark. We need a plan by this week to be able to restart next month. Time is running out,” the Restart campaign said on social media on Tuesday morning.

On its part, Restart has shared its own proposals for how the sector can recommence. It is requesting that events start with 25 per cent standing capacity up to a maximum of 300 persons from 14th June.

As from 1st July, it is calling for 50 per cent standing capacity of up to 800 persons maximum, 75 per cent from 1st August and full standing capacity by 1st September.

The above relates to vaccinated persons only.

In its own statement last week, the MEIA also complained about a lack of detail as to how the entertainment sector can recommence. It highlighted how, in reality, the situation is more precarious than last summer and noted how the lack of information continues to increase uncertainty for all players.

“A week has passed since we submitted our proposals for the gradual reopening of arts and entertainment events, including controlled outdoor events. The situation is more precarious than last summer. Lack of information continues to increase the uncertainties for artists, technicians and other professionals together with entrepreneurs in our sectors who have the right to know when and how they can provide the public with events in the coming months.”