MHRA insists on new air routes as tourism bookings decline
The authorities need to act swiftly over new air routes, or tourism during the winter season may face a substantial drop, MHRA president Kevin De Cesare told The Times Business as the latest passenger data released by the MIA for October shows a...
The authorities need to act swiftly over new air routes, or tourism during the winter season may face a substantial drop, MHRA president Kevin De Cesare told The Times Business as the latest passenger data released by the MIA for October shows a decrease in available seat capacity of 6.1 per cent.
"Every day that goes by is a wasted day", said Mr De Cesare pointing out that while the MHRA welcomes the government's decision to increase funds for marketing and the setting up of new routes, no plans are confirmed as yet.
Additional investment in the tourism product is also needed and Mr De Cesare explained that "our competitors are forging ahead with ambitious product development".
Kevin Drake, Director of Communication and PR at the MTA confirmed that additional air routes in Malta's core markets are being considered. "Meetings between the Parliamentary Secretariat for Tourism, the MTA and industry stakeholders are ongoing," he said, stopping short of giving the number of extra routes being targeted.
Tourism stakeholders contacted by The Times Business are already witnessing a sharp decline in their bookings, with the only exception being a local five-star hotel which is expecting to match the number of guests registered last year.
"We are in for one of our worst winters ever," commented Alex Pace, general manager of the four-star Qawra Palace Hotel. Bookings at his hotel have been trickling in at one to two a day, with occupancy expected to go down by no less than 15 per cent in December. He hopes more low-cost air routes will provide a lifeline to the industry.
Schevon Debono, manager of Rokna Hotel, a small family-run three-star hotel in Paceville, also believes that an increase in air links will help. There will be 20 per cent less guests this year at her hotel.
Sources close to five-star hotel business reported that individual travelling was down compared to last year. Uncertainty in the market remains high for the first three months of 2009 pushing five star hotels to review their projections downwards, the same sources said.
Jonathan Shaw, managing director of Malta's leading travel web site, Choosemalta.com, added that "the MTA must also have a good marketing approach, targeting as well, the individual traveller". Bookings from Choosemalta.com plummeted by 37 per cent in October when compared to 12 months ago.
Germany and Italy slid into recession last week and the UK is on the brink of a recession. All three make up Malta's core tourism markets. Last month passengers from the UK decreased by 17.8 per cent while those from Italy declined by 10.3 per cent.
"Every day that goes by is a wasted day", said Mr De Cesare pointing out that while the MHRA welcomes the government's decision to increase funds for marketing and the setting up of new routes, no plans are confirmed as yet.
Additional investment in the tourism product is also needed and Mr De Cesare explained that "our competitors are forging ahead with ambitious product development".
Kevin Drake, Director of Communication and PR at the MTA confirmed that additional air routes in Malta's core markets are being considered. "Meetings between the Parliamentary Secretariat for Tourism, the MTA and industry stakeholders are ongoing," he said, stopping short of giving the number of extra routes being targeted.
Tourism stakeholders contacted by The Times Business are already witnessing a sharp decline in their bookings, with the only exception being a local five-star hotel which is expecting to match the number of guests registered last year.
"We are in for one of our worst winters ever," commented Alex Pace, general manager of the four-star Qawra Palace Hotel. Bookings at his hotel have been trickling in at one to two a day, with occupancy expected to go down by no less than 15 per cent in December. He hopes more low-cost air routes will provide a lifeline to the industry.
Schevon Debono, manager of Rokna Hotel, a small family-run three-star hotel in Paceville, also believes that an increase in air links will help. There will be 20 per cent less guests this year at her hotel.
Sources close to five-star hotel business reported that individual travelling was down compared to last year. Uncertainty in the market remains high for the first three months of 2009 pushing five star hotels to review their projections downwards, the same sources said.
Jonathan Shaw, managing director of Malta's leading travel web site, Choosemalta.com, added that "the MTA must also have a good marketing approach, targeting as well, the individual traveller". Bookings from Choosemalta.com plummeted by 37 per cent in October when compared to 12 months ago.
Germany and Italy slid into recession last week and the UK is on the brink of a recession. All three make up Malta's core tourism markets. Last month passengers from the UK decreased by 17.8 per cent while those from Italy declined by 10.3 per cent.