MHRA surprised at minister's comments

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) said yesterday it was "surprised" at the speech given by Public Investments Ministers Austin Gatt during the opening of the Amitex Fair last Thursday.

"This speech showed once again the lack of awareness by the government of the current state of the industry, today's international tourism trends and MHRA's position on the subject of low cost airlines," the association said.

The MHRA said it never advocated "low-cost at all cost". It had always said that it wanted low-cost carriers to come to Malta within a framework that ensured that the current foreign and local airlines and tour operators continued to operate to our islands.

"Low-cost carriers are today considered necessary because the traditional tourism trends in Europe have changed as a result of the rise of travel through the Internet. By not being part of the Internet society offering the widest choice of point of departures and destinations at the lowest prices, Malta and Gozo would have opted out of an enormous market that keeps growing day by day," the association said.

"The very disappointing arrival figures for the past winter should be enough of an eye-opener for all to realise that action is needed and needed urgently. This action should also include more focused marketing and more attention to the state of the product."

The MHRA has set up a task force which is putting together a recommendation on low-cost carriers for discussion with the government.