{"id":52073,"date":"2025-10-08T19:04:57","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T18:04:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/?p=52073"},"modified":"2025-10-08T19:04:57","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T18:04:57","slug":"protecting-everyones-investment-but-steering-towards-quality-prime-minister-robert-abela-during-a-consultation-meeting-on-budget-2026-with-the-mhra","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/08\/protecting-everyones-investment-but-steering-towards-quality-prime-minister-robert-abela-during-a-consultation-meeting-on-budget-2026-with-the-mhra\/","title":{"rendered":"Protecting everyone\u2019s investment but steering towards quality \u2013 Prime Minister Robert Abela during a consultation meeting on Budget 2026 with the MHRA"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"lRu31\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"HwtZe\" lang=\"en\"><span class=\"jCAhz ChMk0b\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">During another consultation meeting on Budget 2026, this time with representatives of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA), Prime Minister Robert Abela stressed that the Government will continue to protect everyone\u2019s investment but we need to steer towards quality.<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"jCAhz\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">He said that the Government remains committed to continuing to invest in strengthening the tourism sector, a sector that forms a key pillar of the national economy.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"jCAhz ChMk0b\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\"> He noted how the national tourism strategy, which is being implemented, together with the Malta 2050 Vision, both embrace the principle of quality over quantity.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"lRu31\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"HwtZe\" lang=\"en\"> <span class=\"jCAhz\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">The emphasis will be on attracting more and more tourists to our country who appreciate the authentic Maltese experience and who leave an increasingly positive impact on the economy and local communities.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"jCAhz ChMk0b\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\"> Dr Abela explained how during the first eight months of this year, our country saw an increase of 18.2% in tourist spending compared to the previous year.<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"jCAhz\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">In addition, the European Statistical Office ranked Malta in first place in terms of overnight stays, which increased by 12.7% by the first half of 2025. The Prime Minister stated that these results further encourage the Government to continue implementing an incentive policy that leads to quality and sustainable tourism.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"lRu31\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"HwtZe\" lang=\"en\"><span class=\"jCAhz ChMk0b\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\"> The Prime Minister described the MHRA as an important stakeholder so that together with others we can continue to improve the Maltese product for tourists and noted how our country is strengthening connectivity.<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"jCAhz\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">Note that from next year we will also have direct flights from the United States, by Delta Airlines.<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"jCAhz\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">This summer, Malta had almost 110 direct routes, while a number of new airlines began operating.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"lRu31\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"HwtZe\" lang=\"en\"><span class=\"jCAhz ChMk0b\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\"> Present for this meeting were Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg, Ministers Clint Camilleri, Byron Camilleri and Chris Bonnet, Parliamentary Secretary Glenn Bedingfield and the Head of the Secretariat of the Office of the Prime Minister, Colonel Mark Mallia.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"OvtS8d\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"NQSJo\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"UdTY9 WdefRb\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-location=\"2\">\n<div class=\"kO6q6e\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_52073\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"52073\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>During another consultation meeting on Budget 2026, this time with representatives of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA), Prime Minister Robert Abela stressed that the Government will continue to protect everyone\u2019s investment but we need to steer towards quality. He said that the Government remains committed to continuing to invest in strengthening the tourism [&hellip;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_52073\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"52073\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 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Lynch","author_link":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/author\/bernardlynch\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"During another consultation meeting on Budget 2026, this time with representatives of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA), Prime Minister Robert Abela stressed that the Government will continue to protect everyone\u2019s investment but we need to steer towards quality. He said that the Government remains committed to continuing to invest in strengthening the tourism&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52073","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52073"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52073\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":52075,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52073\/revisions\/52075"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/52074"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52073"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52073"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52073"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}