Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1547581
5 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 15 NOVEMBER 2026 NEWS influwenza.gov.mt You can get vaccinated at any Health Centre or through Local Councils. Getting vaccinated against influenza reduces your risk of serious illness and complications. Less Flu More You! Authority mulls licensing overhaul for entertainment venues THE Malta Tourism Authority is con- sidering a regulatory reform that would include a comprehensive review and re- classification of tourism establishments across Malta and Gozo. The authority told MaltaToday that the proposed reform would seek to ensure licensing categories accurately reflect how establishments operate, allowing for more effective regulation and enforce- ment across the sector. This follows comments made to Mal- taToday by police officers stationed in Paceville, who claimed that only one establishment in the area operates as a properly licensed nightclub. The com- ments were made during an all-night vis- it MaltaToday made at the entertainment hotspot, where journalists accompanied police officers as they patrolled the area. According to the MTA, however, six establishments in Paceville are current- ly licensed as nightclubs, while 47 are licensed as bars. A further 13 establish- ments are licensed as bars with amplified music. The police officers had said they had been pushing several authorities, includ- ing the MTA, to introduce stricter licens- ing requirements. Following their comments, MaltaTo- day asked the MTA whether it believed the time had come to reform licensing requirements for nightclubs and other entertainment establishments. Police officers had also claimed that nightclub licences are sometimes issued without prior inspections, while enforce- ment of existing regulations remains in- adequate. However, the MTA disputed these claims, stressing that on-site inspections form an integral part of its licensing pro- cess. The authority said it was not aware of any licences issued between 2025 and 2026 without the required inspections. "Prior to the issuance of a licence, in- spections are carried out to verify that the premises conform to the applicable standards, conditions, and operational requirements associated with the re- spective licence category," the MTA ex- plained. EVA BRANNON & JAELLE BORG ebrannon@mediatoday.com.mt jborg@mediatoday.com.mt The authority told MaltaToday that the proposed reform would seek to ensure licensing categories accurately reflect how establishments operate, allowing for more effective regulation and enforcement across the sector