Strategies for conferences that his
should be supported, possibly
Ministry was looking at include
in manners different than those
Conference Malta specifically to
currently employed. Obviously
the investment that the
attract conventions to Malta -
Gozo adds to the Malta experi-
Government puts in and
“although we are also aware that
ence and visitors like it. “So one
that
put
in
by
the
pri-
we have an issue with capacities.
could talk of supporting tour
vate sector will result in
Five Star hotels in particular do
operators who offer services to
not seem particularly keen to ac-
further promote the island and
a direct impact that will
tually have an event which doesn’t
add a benefit to the visitors’ ex-
trickle through all the
have a minimum of at least three
perience of Malta. At the same
economies
nights. We fully understand that
time we need to be applying en-
there are these concepts and is-
forcement” he added.
sues which need to be considered
as well.” He commented further
that “as a Government we need
to encourage more facilities for conferences in hotels
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
or perhaps even have convention centres. Part of the
regeneration of lower Valletta will include the Med-
Minister Mizzi again emphasised the importance of
iterranean Conference Centre with its plans for ad-
keeping Air Malta as a national airline since it is the
ditional growth and expansion. This is bound to also
only airline whose allegiance is to the country, unlike
benefit those hotels within its vicinities.
other airlines, which service the Malta route for their
own gain. “At the same time I see optimistic options
Turning the focus onto Gozo, Minister Mizzi ex-
for growth even here, and Air Malta can be in a com-
plained that he believes that he is of the opinion that
petitive role to other airlines especially with regards to
operators providing part of their packages for Gozo
North Africa, and Tunisia in particular, where traffic
is increasing and Malta is slowly taking on the role of a
hub for this business with onward links to other coun-
tries in Europe. “We are not just feeding into other
destinations but other destinations are feeding into us.
Malta can also become a cargo developer not only at sea
but also in the air. Especially with a sea-to-air formula.
A mixture of well trained local and foreign
workers is necessary for the hospitality industry
to thrive on.
HOSPITALITY MALTA
“I honestly believe that if Air Malta focuses on its con-
nections with North Africa and other important desti-
nations in Europe it could easily become a very viable
commercial airline. For that to happen, the commercial
routes moreover need to make sense, the employer-em-
ployee relations need to be correct, that operations are
conducted according to ITA regulations, that it focuses
on its core business, and that it relinquishes certain oth-
er services that can really be carried out more efficiently
by others,” concluded Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi.
Issue 03
17