The Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) has launched enforcement proceedings against the licensee of a Swieqi apartment block after inspections found that a significant number of apartments within the property were operating in breach of the conditions attached to the establishment's tourism licence.
The action follows coordinated inspections carried out by the MTA in Swieqi in collaboration with the Community Police and the Swieqi Local Council as part of an ongoing enforcement programme aimed at ensuring compliance within the short-let accommodation sector.
The apartment block had come under scrutiny on Sunday after police responded to reports of excessive noise at a property in Triq Cannataci. Officers issued on-the-spot fines totalling around €2,000 to 12 young people for breaches of public order, disturbing the peace, and illegal littering. As videos started emerging online on Sunday people started questioning why only 12 tourists were fined when there seems to be more than 12 people shown in the video. Many were of the opinion that the €166 fine that they were given was not sufficient for their behaviour and called for stronger enforcement.
Following additional inspections, the MTA said it had established that several apartments within the licensed property were operating in breach of the conditions attached to the licence issued by the Authority.
As a result, the Authority said it is commencing enforcement proceedings and taking all legal measures available against the property's licensee.
The MTA added that inspections in Swieqi will continue alongside similar operations in other localities to identify instances of non-compliance and ensure adherence to Malta's tourism accommodation regulations.
The Authority also highlighted changes introduced under the revised accommodation regulations, under which any property found to be operating as a short-let without the required licence will be prohibited from applying for a licence for a period of three years.
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