MHRA to decide on EU membership

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association will be pronouncing its stand on EU membership during a conference on February 4.

MHRA president Winston Zahra Jr said the association had been analysing this issue for the past five years and its decision would be taken in the industry's best interest without any consideration of political agendas.

The association's council of 14 members will decide their stand at the end of this month, but will only pronounce it during the conference, EU decision time.

"We felt it would have been premature for the association to adopt a stand without first studying the final package negotiated by the government," Mr Zahra said during a news conference yesterday.

Mr Zahra said the association would also be holding a meeting with Labour leader Alfred Sant on Monday to hear his views on the partnership option.

"We are listening to all sides and looking at all the options available. That is the only way we can truly take a responsible stand," he said.

The MHRA represents over 120 hotels and 300 restaurants. With a collective investment of Lm450 million and an employment base of 20,000, it felt it had an obligation to ensure it took an active part in the decision on EU accession.

As a member of the Hotels, Restaurants and Cafés of Europe, the main lobby in Europe, the MHRA has attended all the general assemblies and studied several national and international documents on the effects of membership.

In turn it has kept its members updated to facilitate the individual's decision when the time comes.

Last August, the association commissioned three reports related to the EU, which are being analysed in depth by the council before it takes its final stand.

Mr Zahra said: "Whatever the outcome, it will affect the tourism industry. Our decision will be non-political and at the end of the day we leave all our members free to vote according to their beliefs in the referendum."

Apart from local speakers, two hoteliers from Spain and Cyprus have been invited to give a presentation at the conference on their experiences as an EU member and candidate respectively.

HOTREC president Joaquim Cabrita Neto has also confirmed his attendance.