MLP to hold conference on plan for 'a new start'

Pjan Laburista Bidu Gdid (A new start with Labour's plan) is the theme chosen for the next Malta Labour Party annual general conference to be held on January 26, 27 and 29 at its headquarters in Hamrun.

Deputy leader Michael Falzon told media representatives yesterday that the conference will focus on two draft political documents, one concerning tourism and the other the environment.

The MLP, he said, started updating its policies last July with the approval of its plan for economic and social revival. It has now reached the stage of going into detail in the different sectors.

After the conference the party will embark on another process so that by mid-year it would be in a position to present policy documents on the other sectors.

General secretary Jason Micallef said the MLP was opening the doors of its conference to a number of associations and non-governmental organisations.

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, the travel agents' association FATTA, Nature Trust and BirdLife would be exhibiting material of general interest in relation to tourism and the environment in the foyer of the MLP headquarters.

Labour spokesman on tourism Evarist Bartolo said the main thrust of the document on tourism was the reduction of the tax burden.

He said the government was failing to achieve its targets in tourism while tourists who were visiting Malta were spending less money.

Malta, he said, was no longer a competitive tourist destination because of the heavy tax burden in the sector. He also referred to low-cost airlines, saying this was a reality that the country could not escape.

But, he cautioned, that the country could not be placed in the situation of dismantling the present set-up and come to depend on low-cost airlines.