Watch: Malta Has Too Many Restaurants, PN MP Alex Borg Warns
Malta has too many restaurants and supply is significantly exceeding demand, PN MP Alex Borg warned.
“Numbers never lie,” Borg said at a recent debate organised by the Association of Catering Establishments that was moderated by Lovin Malta’s Tim Diacono.
He quoted a recent ACE survey, which found that there are over 4,000 restaurants and snack bars in Malta and that profits slightly decreased over the past year.
“The survey clearly shows that there is an over-saturation of restaurants in the sector and that supply by far exceeds the current demand,” he said.
Borg said that while competition in the sector is healthy, Malta’s focus must be on “quality” catering establishments.
“Numbers show that Malta’s concentration of restaurants is far bigger than major cities like New York, London and Paris. We’re in a small country and we must strive towards quality.”
“We need to ensure that regulations are in place, because obviously lawmakers are there to ensure policies are in place to make sure we reach the highest possible standards, but we must also focus on distinctiveness.”
PL MEP and deputy leader Alex Agius Saliba agreed with Borg’s assessment, arguing that the ACE survey’s perception of an over-saturated market is linked to the slight profit decreases.
“Our sustained economic growth has led to better salaries for employees in all sectors, including catering, but these are only sustainable if they are accompanied by a corresponding improvement in productivity,” he said.
“Ultimately this is interlinked with our tourism numbers, that are breaking records every year but I think it is very important to focus on quality, and not just quantity.”
“It’s a good sign that we have created an ecosystem where more restaurants are flourishing in Malta but at the same time we truly believe that we should be attracting and investing more in quality tourists.”
Do you agree with Alex Borg’s statement?