Lack of quay space a major problem - agents

Cruise liner agents in Malta faced major problems, including a lack of quay space for large liners, the absence of a free shuttle service for tourists who did not book excursions, and uncompetitive fees.

Agents Sam Mifsud, Norman Hamilton and Martin Degiorgio, who together represent 90 per cent of the cruise liner business, told Labour leader Alfred Sant during a meeting yesterday that tourists arriving in Malta by sea mostly spent just one day in Malta visiting the port area and Valletta, so it was essential that they found a welcoming environment.

The infrastructure was critical and it was also important for the country to be technically prepared, they said.

This was one in a series of meetings the Labour Party is holding with stakeholders in the Grand Harbour area as part of preparations for the finalisation of its plan for the area.

The agents said that any Grand Harbour development was good news for the country because it was the doorstep for tourists arriving by sea. One major problem was that there was not enough berthing space, especially for large cruise liners.

Cruise liners were getting bigger and thus needed bigger berths. In Malta, they said, the cruise terminal could be developed from the fish market to Senglea. What was important was that the shore side was also developed.

For it was shameful that ships sometimes have to berth at Ras Hanzir.

Transport was another major problem. Unlike other cities, no free shuttle service was provided for cruise liner tourists. Taxi drivers were against this, and had turned violent when it had been put to the test. A free boat shuttle service was not even allowed when cruise liners were made to berth at Ras Hanzir, Dr Sant was told.

It did not make sense, the agents argued, for warships to be given precedence over cruise liners, according to an agreement VISET had with Government.

It was pointed out that berths filled on Fridays but were empty on other days of the week and there were no incentive rates offered to fill them up on off-peak days. Moreover, Malta's rates were high and uncompetitive and the country was losing a lot of business to Tunisia.

The country had already lost 35 per cent of its business with EU membership since Malta lost its competitive edge. It was only this year that the country caught up with where it had been in 2003. An annual 10 per cent growth in the business was now a realistic expectation, the agents said.

Turning Malta into a homeport would be ideal for the country but good infrastructure was needed. There had to be good connection flights and hotel availability.

Malta was currently in the west Mediterranean cruising routes but could easily be included in eastern Mediterranean routes, which could not start from Barcelona but could be organised from here. However, proper marketing was needed.