Al Fresco Dining Is Here To Stay

Following my last article about al fresco entertaining, I heard from a number of readers, and it's clear this is a topic people feel passionately about, because they love it.

Some wondered if I was being too cautious, and were quick to defend the buzz and energy that outdoor dining has brought to our streets. Valletta was singled out more than once: a city that has been transformed from a quiet, sleepy capital into a genuinely vibrant one, pulsing with life, colour and a soul it hadn't had in generations. That's worth celebrating.

Beyond what I, and people like me, feel, what do stakeholders think? I asked the Malta Tourism Authority and the MHRA to give their views.

VC: Is there a proper, enforceable policy regarding outdoor seating for restaurants, cafés, and other entities? What is it exactly?

MTA: The authorisation to place tables and chairs in public areas is subject to permits issued by the competent authorities, principally by the Planning Authority and, when placed on public land, the Lands Authority, in accordance with their respective legal frameworks and policies. Once such permits are issued, the authorised outdoor seating is included and forms part of the conditions of the MTA licence.

The Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) is responsible for licensing and monitoring catering establishments to ensure compliance with the legal and regulatory framework governing their operation. Where noncompliance is identified, operators are required to take corrective action and are informed of the applicable enforcement measures should breaches persist.

VC: Many feel this framework could be strengthened further and would benefit from an update. What are your views?

MTA: The Malta Tourism Authority is not the authority responsible for establishing or reviewing the policy governing the use of public spaces for outdoor seating. Such policies fall within the remit of the competent authorities responsible for the administration of public land and planning matters.

A specific policy on outdoor catering areas on public open spaces was published by the Planning Authority in 2016. The MTA's role is limited to licensing catering establishments and ensuring compliance with the conditions attached to the tourism licence, including any permits issued by the relevant authorities. Consequently, any assessment as to whether the existing policy requires updating or amendment is a matter for the authorities responsible for formulating and administering that policy. Tony Zahra, the MHRA president, shared his perspective too:

VC: How do you view the evolution of outside seating for restaurants, cafés, and other entities?

Tony Zahra: The al fresco experience has always been there, but Covid 19 was the real game-changer. Prior to Covid, many fewer places were offering an al fresco experience. When the pandemic hit, governments everywhere wanted to reopen hospitality businesses as fast as possible without causing potential outbreaks of Covid by cramming people into indoor spaces. The mantra was “put chairs and tables outside, and we’ll solve the permit issues in due course.”

“At first the establishments set up more or less the same seating they had inside and transferred the same numbers outside their premises. The customers liked the idea so much that soon there was an ever-increasing number of chairs and tables, increasing every week. What was an emergency solution became permanent, and those who ‘secured’ the most space outside seem to have won the tables and chairs battle for business.

Some two years ago, a government executive made an attempt to bring some order to the ‘battlefield’ where non-licensed tables and chairs were increasing as the operators thought fit. But there was political pushback, and the attempt fizzled down to nothing very, very quickly.”

VC: The bigger the number of tourists we attract, especially the type that we are attracting at present, the more demand there will be for al fresco entertainment which is attractive to the masses. That is a far cry from the mantra of quality not quantity. How can this be changed?

Tony Zahra: I certainly do not accept your assertion that al fresco hospitality is the prerogative of what you term ‘mass tourism’. The al fresco experience is enjoyed by all segments of the market, whether it’s the person reaching out for a fine dining experience or the tourist enjoying an ice cream sitting outside the ice cream parlour.

That said, it is therefore clear that the more tourists we bring in, the greater the demand for al fresco dining. We keep talking about ‘quality tourists,’ but nobody in some form of authority has as yet defined what we mean by quality tourism. Is it not time to flesh out what we mean by quality tourists? Once we identify what we want, we can then identify whether the target market makes economic sense or not.

This is the thinking of some of our leading tourism voices. I still believe we need to discuss this aspect of our life more. Outdoor space isn't just about food and drink; it's part of the shared life of the islands, enjoyed by locals and travellers alike, and something we can keep shaping together.

We look forward to continuing this conversation with businesses, authorities, and residents alike, all working towards the same goal: a vibrant, welcoming Malta.