Low-cost airlines 'not enough'

While hoping that low-cost airlines Ryanair and EasyJet would start operations to Malta, the opposition spokesman for tourism, Evarist Bartolo, said these were too few to inject tourism with a new lease of life.

Ryanair will start operations on October 31.

In the first seven months of this year, 16,000 (two per cent) fewer tourists than last year visited Malta. On the other hand, neighbouring European countries saw tourists arrivals going up by four per cent.

According to the targets set by the government, the number of tourists this year had to increase by 70,000.

For tourism to regain ground, Mr Bartolo said, the government should draw up a serious and strategic plan with the private sector. Such a plan should have been concluded last November.

He said a lot of work was required from the tourism inter-ministerial committee led by the Prime Minister which had to prepare and publish a national plan with precise aims and announce fiscal measures to encourage the private sector to launch tourism projects together with the government.