'Fresh start needed in tourism'

Labour's spokesman for tourism, Evarist Bartolo, has called on the government to take urgent measures for the "serious management" of the tourism industry.

The government had to take the necessary steps to introduce a stable and efficient management at the Malta Tourism Authority, so that the situation would not continue to deteriorate further, Mr Bartolo said.

For the second consecutive year, the government was not meeting its targets of increasing the number of tourists and income generated from them, he said.

"Instead of concentrating its energies and ideas on drafting a serious national plan for the salvation of tourism, the government is carrying on as though there are no problems."

Not only was the MTA in a total state of paralysis and getting lost in tearing itself apart, but the inter-ministerial committee for tourism was slackening from what it was supposed to be doing - leading embellishment projects and coming up with incentive schemes for the private sector to partner with the government to improve tourist facilities.

While competing countries were advancing, the government was leaving the country without a sense of direction in tourism, Mr Bartolo said, pointing out the need for a fresh start.