Labour's pledge on tourism

A Labour government would implement a serious programme aimed at getting tourism back on track, MLP acting leader Michael Falzon said yesterday.

Speaking at a political conference in St Julians, Dr Falzon said the tourism industry, a major pillar of the economy, was in serious crisis. The government had spent some Lm50 million on the Malta Tourism Authority since 1999 but the country had seen little returns.

Even the holding of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta last November had not improved matters for the sector. Dr Falzon said the country needed a better balance between the three and five-star hotel sectors and more attention needed to be given to embellishment and to tourism in Gozo.

On Saturday Dr Falzon told a seminar of the party's education section that the Labour Party will focus its activity in the future on maintaining direct contact with the people. The seminar discussed the party's activities.

Dr Falzon said the MLP would remain an inclusive and innovative party.