Group's tourism proposals not to be published yet

Over a week has passed since the tourism consultative group submitted its recommendations to revive the industry but the government was too scared to make them public, Evarist Bartolo, Labour spokesman for tourism, charged yesterday.

"The government has not plucked up the courage or the honesty to publish the recommendations and say which ones it would accept and commit itself to implement them by a certain date," he said in a statement.

Mr Bartolo said the government had only said the recommendations would be integrated into the national plan on tourism.

However, he pointed out that this plan should have been ready a year ago and should have been drawn up following public consultation.

"It is clear that the government is scared of publishing these recommendations to shirk its responsibilities to commit to a plan that helps the industry stand on its feet," he said.

However, in response to Mr Bartolo's accusations, Tourism and Culture Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said there was an agreement between the government and the tourism consultative group for the report in question not to be published before it is included in the national plan for tourism.

"It makes no sense for the report to be published at this stage.

"At present the recommendations are being carefully analysed and we are deciding which of these proposals will be included in the national plan and which ministries and authorities will be responsible to carry out the various proposals.

"Our national plan will be made public by the end of the year," Dr Zammit Dimech said.