The Republic Street Business Community Association (RSBCA) last week made three proposals to attract more business to the central part of Valletta.
RSBCA secretary Paul Fenech told The Sunday Times that following a meeting earlier this month with Transport and Communications Minister Censu Galea it has come up with proposals for effective land and sea transportation measures around the Grand Harbour.
One of the proposals involves the reconstruction of the lift linking the Upper Barracca Gardens with Lascaris Wharf, which would channel tourists from the quay near the cruise liner terminal to central Valletta.
The RSBCA also proposed a similar lift to be installed at Hastings Gardens. The service has one major advantage: providing a relatively fast link between the port and Valletta.
A second proposal involves the ferry service between Sliema and Valletta and another one between Cospicua and Valletta.
Mr Fenech explained: "Of course this would not be restricted to tourists, but will certainly prove indispensable to many local residents who, for example, travel from Sliema and Cospicua to Valletta daily."
The ferry service is an effective measure against the choking pollution generated by the ever-increasing number of vehicles entering the capital city every day. It would also limit the existing parking problem by reducing the number of cars.
The RSBCA has also thought of another service to complement the ferry service and at the same time as an alternative to the lifts scheme. The third proposal suggests a complimentary shuttle service from the passenger terminal to Republic Street.
"Such a scheme is present in most sea-surrounded cities around Europe," Mr Fenech said. "This should accommodate two main aims. First, it would provide an efficient link between the Grand Harbour quay and central Valletta for both tourists and the local passengers arriving to the city either through the ferry service or by any other sea transport.
"Secondly, the shuttle would provide a means for our historical heritage to be showcased to tourists. The shuttle would in fact not travel directly to the city's centre, but would follow a circular route around Valletta's outskirts, illustrating bastions, museums, churches and other historical-cultural sights," he said.
Reacting to the proposals, Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that the lifts project had already been proposed before.
"The rebuilding of the lift at the Upper Barracca Gardens formed part of discussions with regard to the Connections Project. However, it has now been decided that the lift project will be separate: the lift will be installed more expeditiously while the other parts of this major project could be discussed later," the Minister said.
The Sliema-Valletta ferry service has been in operation for a few years. "The service was inaugurated at a time when I was Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Communications," Minister Zammit Dimech recalled.
"At that time the service was to include a ferry between the Three Cities and Valletta. But it was later found that this service was not yet viable.
"Still the Ministry for Tourism intends to issue a call to have a service between Cottonera and Valletta since, with developments taking place in Cottonera, not least the inauguration of the Marina, this is a service that is required more than ever before."
The Minister said that he agreed with the ferry service that is being offered between Sliema and Valletta as well as with the proposed ferry service between the Three Cities and Valletta. He also agreed with the provision of lifts and with any other transport service that makes Valletta more accessible to the Maltese and to tourists.
Are these projects on the agenda? "The lift and ferry services are definitely on the agenda. The same applies to other projects related to the regeneration of the Grand Harbour area," Minister Zammit Dimech replied.
Transport Minister Censu Galea also agreed with the proposals. However, he said, that other aspects have to be taken into consideration when tackling these proposals.
"One has to go into further details before making a commitment. For example, even though the shuttle service from the port is interesting, one has to keep in mind the developments that will be taking place around the cruise passenger terminal.
"One also has to bear in mind other aspects, such as the existing transport services, particularly the coach and taxi service, which will be affected," he said.
Both ministers agreed that the services should be provided by the private sector without the need for government funding. Dr Zammit Dimech said: "It is intended that the private sector will provide the services. The government would help in providing basic services, such as water, electricity and drainage in the same way as it is helping other consortia, such as the consortia who are working on the Cottonera project.
"If the projects are provided with efficiency and are well planned, there should not be any need for government funding, but only scope for logistical and infrastructural back-up."
Mr Galea agreed: "If these services have to be provided, they will have to be provided by the private sector, and with this in mind commercial viability is not something which has to be directly considered by Government.
"The idea of having the private sector is not having Government involved in the financing, but for the private sector itself to finance services if they are given the go-ahead by Government," he concluded.