The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment this afternoon replied to the statement [1] issued by Ghaqda Partecipanti Karnival on the proposal to change the dates of the 2013 Carnival.
The Ministry said that Carnival dates are “related to the timing of Easter and does not make sense to replace them. The Carnival is a well established tourist attraction that draws thousands of tourists. Many tour operators will have already organised their programmes for this event. It would therefore be a great loss if, at this stage any changes were to be made in the dates.
“One must also bear in mind that in addition to the main activities in the city, the Carnival today is spread around various localities in Malta and Gozo and these locations will also have made plans around those dates.
“The Ministry therefore, while understanding the concerns of the Association, believes that the political parties should be able to accommodate and plan for Carnival events and not the other way around.
“The Ministry hopes that this edition of the carnival is a success and as in every other year, offer a unique spectacle and a source of entertainment for both Maltese and visitors.”