Malta Cruise Network gaining momentum

"Two of the main problems faced by the cruise industry in Malta in the recent past were a lack of cooperation when coordinating the efforts of all the partners involved locally, and coherence when presenting destination Malta abroad.

It was with this in mind that the Malta Cruise Network was established last year," said the Malta Cruise Network's chairman, Chris Falzon.

The Malta Cruise Network is partnered with 29 local stakeholders, service providers and government departments. These include the Ship Agents Association, the Association of Tour Guides, the White Taxi Licensed Amalgamated, the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, and the Malta Shipyards, all working together to open Malta as a gateway for cruising in the Mediterranean.

In recent months, the Malta Cruise Network focused on drawing up an effective statute and bringing together all of the stakeholders in order to create a forum that can streamline Malta's image as a cruising centre overseas.

"In order to achieve this crucial point, the partners who form the Network are all directly involved in the decision-making process," said Mr Falzon.

He said that while highlighting the required changes in order to make Malta more competitive and attractive to the cruise liner industry.

The process, he added, encourages the Network's partners to become more knowledgable and familiar with the difficulties and with the need to embark willingly on initiatives that will guarantee a future for this relatively new industry in Malta.

At the same time, the Malta Cruise Network board, consisting of Dirk Spiteri Lucas from VISET plc (operator of the Valletta Waterfront); George Micallef and Leslie Vella from the Malta Tourism Authority; Charles Schembri and Charles Axisa from the Malta Maritime Authority and Julian Diacono and Joseph R. Darmanin from the Malta International Airport, is giving added impetus to develop, deliver, market and promote Malta's attractiveness for cruise tourism.

So far this year, Malta has welcomed over 226,900 cruise passengers on 275 cruise ships. Passenger numbers are set to grow to 230,000 as over 300 ships are expected to visit by end 2004.

Although this year the numbers of passengers dropped slightly, there are strong indications and firm bookings for 2005 that will enable Malta to reach the 2004 level and most probably even surpass it. This upturn in visitors is already being registered in the last quarter of 2004.

Having concluded this structuring exercise, the Network recently appointed a full-time coordinator, Ben Stuart, to implement initiatives that were agreed upon by the Network's partners and to help improve the quality of service offered to cruise liners and the image of Malta as one of the Mediterranean's historical ports, abroad.

Mr Stuart is a Maltese national with a BA Hons degree from the Warsash Maritime Institute of the University of Southampton, whose thesis dealt with the cruise industry in Malta. His career has been largely based in the leisure industry, particularly in France.

The first initiative to materialise following his appointment is the new Vehicle Management System, bringing together the Police, White Taxi Licensed Amalgamated, the Malta Transport Authority and VISET's Safety and Security Department.

"This is an ongoing exercise aimed at the elimination of congestion and organisational problems at the cruise passenger terminal. The first trial day was held on November 11 and following feedback and adjustment will see the implementation on a routine basis," said Mr Stuart.

"The Malta Cruise Network will continue to develop and improve in order to benefit the cruise industry and the entire Maltese economy.

All the Network's partners are beginning to understand the need to develop and streamline all operations according to the needs of the cruise liner industry.

"This is not something imposed by the Network, but by the industry itself. With more destinations offering professional facilities in competition with Malta, we have no alternative but to raise standards and maintain them while coordinating our efforts to make a cruise visit to Malta an enjoyable one.

Without such an overall effort, one cannot ensure a future for a cruise liner industry in Malta," said Mr Falzon.