Failure to move with the times

Dinosaurs lived on earth for a long time. They did pretty well, even though they were not too refined, or organised. They were not too neat, not too tidy, nor did they ever think they would eventually be eliminated from the face of the earth. One day, however, so scientists say, a huge meteor hit planet earth and the amazing dinosaurs were no more.

In their place came smaller, more adaptable creatures that could survive the new conditions, and continue successfully with their earthly existence. Ancient history shows us that things change in this world of ours, mainly because they have to, and because if they do not, then they would not survive.

Neanderthal man lost out to homo sapiens because he could not adapt to the new conditions presenting themselves at the time. He disappeared, and mankind as we know it and see around us today, was established.

History and ancient history shows us that unless we change and adapt to the times, we will be eliminated and replaced by others who can, and are prepared to do so.

Now, I am not comparing Air Malta and our tourism industry with the dinosaurs and Neanderthal man... wait... who am I kidding? Yes I am. Yes, I am comparing our ancient friends with those who think and act as if they were living in the past, and who do not think and adapt enough for a successful future.

There are a lot of similarities between the dinosaurs, Neanderthal man and our attitude to tourism, but what will greatly damage our tourist industry will not be a meteor hitting earth, but definitely the lack of will, and the courage to change and reorganise, so that we will be able to really compete with our competitors.

At the moment what is hitting us right in the face is the fact that our competitors are benefiting hugely by using low-cost airlines. They are the mass transport of the present and the future. They are running alongside the regular airline services, and those countries that are availing themselves of their services are gaining to our detriment. But we, for some reason, are not doing all we can, and I mean all, to get this new type of transportation heading to Malta.

We will eventually get low-cost airlines to come to our islands, but it will probably take forever, and in the meanwhile our tourism business will suffer.

There has to be a way to get them here. Whether by giving rates depending on the number of people carried to Malta, or by using the old arrival terminus presently being used by the cargo airlines, or any other idea. As I said before, I am not an expert on airlines, far from it, but I do know that a way could, and should, be found, to bring them over to Malta, and as soon as possible.

I have said many times that the Malta Tourism Authority should have the ultimate authority over all things that relate to tourism, from the cleaning of sensitive tourism areas to the methods of tourist transportation, including into, out of, and inside Malta. It is too dangerous to have too many cooks making the broth. Too dangerous to have such a huge part of our economy jeopardised by indecision, and too many personal and political involvements.

Every type of tourism segment would benefit from a larger number of tourists, and even the more wealthy tourists are using the low-cost airlines because they would rather spend more money at their destination, again to the benefit of the Maltese.

Short-stay tourists, weekend tourists, businessmen, spur-of-the-moment tourists, holiday homeowners; I could go on and on.

If it is so obviously advantageous for Malta, then why are we not acting immediately?

I suppose it is the same reason why it took 10 years to get St George's Bay started and completed. Ten years to get the garden outside the Hilton to be embellished. Years and years to get the embellishment of our Crafts Village at Ta' Qali to be started, never mind completed. Sixty years and counting for anything to be done about our Opera House site in Valletta, even a temporary embellishment job.

With all their restraints, things at present do seem to be happening at the MTA. Let the introduction of low-cost airlines be a priority.

We mustn't be afraid to make difficult decisions that are for the long-term benefit of all of Malta and all the Maltese people. In business, delays in making the right decisions could mean disaster and bankruptcy. Why should a country be any different?

Seeing what is best for the future and acting upon decisions made sometimes takes a lot of courage. The trouble is, if you ask 10 people sitting around a table what is the future and what decisions should be made, you will probably get 10 different answers.

Something as clear, and simple, and obvious as low-cost airlines coming to Malta for the benefit of the country should be a decision that even 10 people sitting around a table should agree on.