RISING MALTA | MALTA

Malta is widely recognised as a popular tourist destination, welcoming thousands of visitors, students and international residents every year. Public transport plays an important role in connecting communities, workplaces, educational institutions and tourist destinations across the islands.

However, recent concerns regarding alleged sexual harassment on public buses have raised an important question: Are women sufficiently protected while using Malta’s public transport system?

Malta’s public transport system offers free travel to holders of personalised Tallinja Cards on most regular day and night routes, making buses an important and affordable means of transportation. Tourists and passengers without eligible personalised cards can also use the service by purchasing tickets.

Allegations of repeated harassment

Rising Malta has been made aware of concerns involving alleged incidents of harassment on public transport. In one reported case, a young woman is understood to have experienced harassment involving the same individual on three separate occasions.

Separately, Rising Malta has also been informed of an alleged incident involving a student of the Institute of Tourism Studies, which was reportedly brought to the attention of the police on 7 August 2026.

The details of these individual cases have not been independently verified by Rising Malta, and any allegations should be treated as such unless established through an official investigation or court proceedings.

Nevertheless, repeated reports of this nature deserve serious attention.

Safety must be part of public transport planning

Sexual harassment in public spaces can have a significant impact on a person's sense of security and freedom of movement. Public transport can be particularly sensitive because passengers may find themselves in confined and crowded environments, sometimes with limited ability to move away from another passenger.

This concern is not unique to Malta. Research published in 2026 has highlighted harassment on public transport as a significant issue affecting women and has called for stronger prevention measures and better consideration of safety in transport planning.

For Malta, the issue deserves particular attention given the country's large tourism sector and the increasing reliance on public transport by residents, international students, workers and visitors.

What more can be done?

A safe public transport system requires more than simply providing buses. Passengers should have confidence that inappropriate behaviour will be taken seriously and that help is accessible when an incident occurs.

Possible measures could include:

• stronger CCTV monitoring and regular review of footage following complaints;
• clearer information inside buses on how passengers can report harassment;
• faster communication between passengers, bus operators and police;
• increased security presence on busy routes and at major transport hubs;
• better awareness campaigns addressing sexual harassment;
• appropriate training for drivers and transport staff on responding to complaints;
• improved reporting mechanisms for students, tourists and other vulnerable passengers.

Malta Public Transport already operates an extensive day and night network, including additional services during major events and periods of increased passenger demand.

The challenge is to ensure that safety receives the same level of attention as accessibility and convenience.

A responsibility for everyone

Preventing sexual harassment cannot be the responsibility of women alone. Passengers, transport operators, authorities and law-enforcement agencies all have a role to play.

Passengers who witness inappropriate behaviour should not simply ignore it. Where safe and appropriate, they should support the person affected and report serious incidents to the relevant authorities.

At the same time, victims should never feel that they are responsible for the behaviour of the perpetrator.

Malta must protect its reputation as a safe destination

Malta has built a strong reputation as a destination for tourism, education and international business. Maintaining that reputation requires ensuring that public spaces are safe for everyone—women, men, students, tourists, workers and children.

Free or affordable public transport is valuable, but affordability must go hand in hand with safety.

The recent concerns should therefore serve as an opportunity for Malta Public Transport, Transport Malta, the police and other relevant authorities to examine whether existing safeguards are sufficient and whether additional measures are needed.

Every passenger should be able to board a bus without fear of being followed, intimidated or sexually harassed.

A safe journey should be a basic expectation—not a privilege.

Rising Malta will continue to follow developments and welcomes verified information or official statements from the relevant authorities concerning public transport safety.