Construction works 'hurting tourism'

Construction works in tourist areas during the summer months were having an adverse effect on tourism, the St Paul's Bay Bars and Restaurants Association said yesterday.

The association said a number of construction and infrastructure projects were undertaken a mere few weeks before the summer season started.

The works were taking place despite guidelines adopted some years ago that restrict construction works in tourist areas during the summer months, which, the association said, did not seem to be enforced any more.

In 2001, the Tourism Ministry, the Building Industry Consultative Committee, the Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprise - GRTU and the Federation of the Building and Civil Engineering Contractors had agreed on number of measures to minimise noise and disturbance in tourist areas during the high season.

However, Francis Albani, the tourism and corporate services director within the Ministry of Tourism, said that although the guidelines were published by the government annually, they were not always observed. The agreement did not have any legal basis, although any works by a government entity needed the ministry's nod of approval.

The guidelines lay down that between July and September construction work in tourist zones should not start before 8 a.m. and should be suspended between 2 p.m. and 3.30 p.m. No demolition works or excavation and rock cutting works should be carried out, although ripping and loading of already excavated material is permitted.

Moreover, Mr Albani pointed out that one needed to differentiate between urgent and non-urgent works. "It is not a hard and fast rule, we don't say no to everything," he said.

Mr Albani admitted that construction work had a negative effect on tourism. It was one of the major complaints by tourists.

The association said the industry was also suffering because of the considerable increase in running costs. Various operators might have to close shop over the next few months if the situation did not improve.

It called for measures to boost tourism, adding that the introduction of low-cost airlines would help. It urged the authorities to "face the grim reality currently being experienced by our tourism market and take all the decisions necessary".

The association said it recently forwarded its complaints to Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech, who assured it that remedial action was being taken.