The Opposition has been calling for an explanation
which has yet to be given.
Educating the service providers is important too. Unfortunately, there are service providers, even if in the
absolute minority, who think that investing in human
resources is a waste of time and money. They cause unimaginable harm to our tourism industry.
The government's heavy investment in the 2000's into the
island's infrastructure prompted a boom in the number of tourists
visiting Malta.
rorist attack in its history; the refugee crisis is the worst
since World War Two, and Brussels is in total lockdown
because of threatened terrorist attack.
We are but a stepping stone away from Libya, and this
country has unfortunately become a hotbed for terrorists. Although there is absolutely no reason why people should be afraid of travelling to Malta, reassuring
people that this is the case is no easy task. Security is
an issue, more than ever - not least in Malta. The sale
of Maltese passports could tarnish Malta's international
image as a safe country.
We need to make sure that Malta is promoted as an all
-year-round destination. Leading stakeholders in the
field have been telling me of the need to have a calendar
of events, highlighting year-round activities that can be
enjoyed by visitors to Malta. This should be offered to
our tour operators at least 18 months in advance. Unfortunately, government has not yet put this fully into action.
Connection to and from Malta is crucial as it is the lifeblood of our tourism industry. Low
cost carriers introduced by the PN
government meant new markets to
and from Malta. Simultaneously,
however, the importance of strengthening our national carrier - Air Malta, cannot be disputed.
Air Malta has been undergoing internal restructuring for the past years
and government has not yet put all its
cards on the table and informed tax
payers, as well as tourism stakeholders, what its plans for the national
carrier are. Rumours abound that
government plans to privatise it.
INSIDER SPECIAL EDITION
Our tourism entrepreneurs are investing heavily in the
industry. They need to be constantly encouraged. They
face increasing competition, not least from new, highly
sought after, services such as AirbnB. Malta therefore
needs to make sure that our tourism product - and that
encompasses a wide range of services offered - is top
notch. Failure to do so would undoubtedly harm our
tourism industry.
In the early days of my appointment as the opposition spokesperson for tourism, I called for a capacity
study. The last time this was carried out was in 2000
- a decade and a half ago. This study had found that
the island’s infrastructure at the time could not accommodate any more tourists. Government promptly
went into action, and invested heavily in Malta's infrastructure. The effect was a boom in the number of
tourists visiting Malta. It's high time for another capacity study.
Traffic congestion on our roads is another major obstacle to our tourism industry. With traffic now at an
all-time high, and with a public transport system which
needs to come to terms with this factor, Malta risks losing its edge on its main competitors. A bi-partisan approach is needed to address this problem, and government needs to put the right, competent, people in place
if this is to happen successfully.
Safeguarding our environment is the key to a successful
tourism industry. Turning Malta into
a concrete jungle should not be the
way forward to attract new tourists.
Malta needs to make
sure that our tourism
product - and that
encompasses a wide
range of services
offered - is top notch.
As the Opposition spokesperson
for tourism, I shall strive to give my
genuine commitment to this sector.
Malta's economic success depends
largely on a successful tourism
industry. We cannot afford to mess
up. All hands on deck are needed if
we are to remain competitive.
Antoine Borg is an MP and Opposition spokesman for tourism.
2015
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