Location: Marsakala, Malta

Time frame: 2011 - present

In 2010, just as the first concepts of Merill were being drawn together, Jeanette and Christian attended an MTA / EU training programme - ‘ADVANCE, Training Tourism Leaders’. Apart from being a great opportunity to learn about the industry, these sessions were instrumental in networking.

The following year, another collaboration came about thanks to the same programme, one which is still bearing its fruit to this day. Mario, son of Żaren Darmanin an artisan sea salt harvester from Żejtun, approached Merill in order to make the salt pans accessible to the public. This initiative serves two main purposes; a) it is a means of educational and leisure activity for both locals and tourists and b) it is empowering the artisan family in many different ways.

By means of planned workshops at Darmanin Salt Pans, visitors are able to take part in hands-on activities and learn about this ancient tradition.