Cancelled music festivals to get MTA money to cover marketing costs
The organisers of four international festivals which were cancelled due to coronavirus concerns will be receiving taxpayer money to cover their marketing expenses.
The Malta Tourism Authority said that this was not a sponsorship, but standard practice for "many" large events intended to draw tourists to Malta.
An MTA spokesperson said they could not say how much money would be disbursed to cover the festivals’ marketing expenses, as organisers have yet to provide the authorities with receipts of their marketing efforts.
Set to attract thousands of clubbers in August and September, the events were cancelled following "an agreement between organisers, the government and the tourism authority".
The festivals' websites highlighted Malta's beauty to prospective ticket-buyers but did not include the MTA or its portal Visit Malta among their list of partners.
Organisers however made reference to "our partners at the Malta Tourism Authority" when cancelling the events.
Tourism Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli had said last month, days before the four events were cancelled, that organised had not received "a cent" in MTA sponsorships.
Marketing refunds
An MTA spokesperson has however...