Tourism generating more jobs and income

Gross income from tourism last year amounted to Lm269.1 million, which was 2.9 per cent higher than in 2003, Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said yesterday.

The improvement in the tourism industry, he noted, had a direct effect on employment in this sector where full-time and part-time employment swelled from 15,842 in 2002 to 16,407 in 2003 and to 17,705 by November last year.

The minister was speaking about new investment in the industry when he visited the Victoria Hotel in Sliema. This visit was one of series to stakeholders to get to know and discuss at first-hand problems that affect the industry.

This year, five new hotels will open their doors, four of which were four-star and one three-star. They combine a total investment of Lm39 million and are expected to attract 27,000 visitors who are being considered as 'new business'.

Dr Zammit Dimech said industry trends gave room for cautious optimism. Figures issued by the World Tourism Organisation and the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association were also encouraging.

WTO figures for last year, he added, show a two per cent increase in tourism in Western Europe and a three per cent rise in southern and Mediterranean Europe. In Malta, the increase was 3.5 per cent.

Dr Zammit Dimech said figures published by the National Statistics Office indicate an increase in the number of tourists in January but a dip in arrivals in February compared to the previous year.

Statistics on airport movements published by Malta International Airport show an increase in the first three months of this year.