2003 expected to be good for tourism

Tourism Minister Michael Refalo yesterday said he expected tourism figures for 2003 to be close to the 1.22 million record set in 2000.

Speaking during a visit to three-star Metropole Hotel, four-star Diplomat Hotel and five-star Westin Dragonara Resort the minister said the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association's bookings survey had been encouraging.

Occupancy levels for the coming first quarter showed increases in all categories but most significantly at five-star level where hotels would host a number of large conferences in the first two quarters, including the World Tourism Organisation Commission for Europe meeting in May.

However, he said: "At the end of 2000 I had similar hopes. Granted, we had an economic downturn to contend with but no one had the slightest suspicion of what would befall the industry worldwide. That put paid to everyone's plans.

"Even today at the end of a relatively good year for the industry and at the dawn of another, which we face with much hope and expectation of better things to come, we cannot but not think of the possibility of war and terrorism in the Gulf region."

He said tourism prospered in times of peace, and was a great instrument for bringing about peace.

Dr Refalo expressed satisfaction at the year's figures: "We had originally forecast losses in 2002 of just over seven per cent. These have now been limited to below four per cent.

"This welcome turnaround is thanks to the corporate effort by all involved in the industry," he said.