Malta prepares for tough tourism year
"We need to stir up demand" - de Marco
The Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Mario de Marco, in a frank speech to hoteliers this morning outlined the problems facing tourism and the actions which need to be taken for the industry to at least maintain this year’s arrivals figures for next year.
He told the annual meeting of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association that tourism to Malta this year performed better than the European average and better than most if not all direct competitors. Despite a slowdown in the last part of the year, Malta expected to end the year with overall growth of around four to five percent, a record on an already record 2007, with arrivals reaching 1.3 million.
“The situation for next year, as our main source markets enter into a deeper recession, does not appear positive. The situation is further aggravated by the airline industry cutting seat capacity,” Dr de Marco said.
As a result, he said, the UK, Malta’s most important source market, was underserved by airlines. Germany, Malta’s second most important market, was back to being served only by two legacy carriers. Italy was performing below its capacity and France was still being served solely by Air Malta.
Opening up new routes, especially in the UK, remained a line of action the authorities were working on. The government published a call last month inviting airlines to express an interest in operating to Malta from three UK regional destinations, even if it acknowledged that getting airlines to commit nowadays was 10 times more difficult than it was a couple of years ago.
“Filling available seats should in theory be cheaper and easier than starting new routes. From my discussions with members of the trade, I concluded that this solution is highly underrated,” the parliamentary secretary said.
"We need to stir up demand. I would have wished that the problem we are facing today is simply one of accessibility. It is not. It is also a problem of stirring up demand to fill those seats that we have available on those markets that have been traditionally our core markets, on those markets that although secondary are important, and on those markets that are emerging.
“I have set up a special team which meets regularly to discuss tourism trends and propose intervention measures. I will keep insisting with this group and with MTA on the need to push up load factors from existing routes. I want MTA to carry out more intensive marketing campaigns, targeting those regions with low seat factors. Filling up those seats will make up for lost seat capacity from other routes.”
He said that Air Malta would as from next summer operate all its 12 aircraft on Malta routes and it was planning to introduce new routes.
“It is in our long term interest to do whatever we can to see these routes gain strength. I have in mind, particularly, the new French routes and the increased frequencies from German airports.”
Turning to product, Dr de Marco said Malta needed to better display what it was offering.
“We as a government are aware that we need to do more and in fact, we will be spending €120 million over the next years to improve our tourism product. But on this one the buck does not stop only with me or with government. It stops with all tourism operators not to mention all citizens. We all have our part to play in improving our tourism product.”
He stressed, however, that tourists also needed to enjoy good value for money.
“It is a shared responsibility amongst us all. By this I do not mean that we have to be cheapest on the market, but we can, and certainly should offer best value for money. It is the best competitive edge that we can have over other competing destinations in these arduous times.”
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Charlene Tanti
Nov 23rd 2008, 20:18
I agree very much with what Mr Joe Galea said.To stir up trs demand Hon. De Marco, we need to invest in a differentiated product, build a new image of malta in the minds of foreigners and focus more on niche markets rather than keep on promoting mass tourism.Marketing should be the backbone to stir up tourism.
Authorities need to work upon developing clear plans for the investment of gd infrastructural networks knowing that infrastructure is the 1st impression ppl get of a tourist dest.
I also agree with Mario Gauci that Malta is considered as a safe holiday dest and this aspect could easily attract families with children who can visit Malta and experience diff activities such as cultural tours, and other events that we can work upon to attract such market.
Now that we are getting into a world's recession, Malta has to think strategically in order to become competitive in our trs keeping in mind it is Malta's main economic pillar.
And this could be achieved if all the Maltese get together and work together towards the same aim and stop blaming one another. The voice of everyone could make a difference.
E. Azzopardi
Nov 23rd 2008, 19:58
Investing in the country is always a priority. However, the product is not up to standard and far from it. We have to first eliminate all this rubbish ahd shabbiness all over the place.
I am writing this at 1950 hrs on Sunday and if you go out in the streets of Sliema now ( a major tourist haven) you will see all this rubbish in the streets. And I do not mean only pieces of paper, dogs' shit etc but rubbish behind doors taken out after collection yesterday morning. A whole weekend !!! The cats and dogs always have a feast in the evening. And this from people who should know better.
This is what we have to eliminate as we have failed miserably in this,.We have tried but we failed. And this is what the majority of tourists complain about.
Liam Kelly
Nov 23rd 2008, 13:09
Mario de Marco should be dictating to hoteliers that the best standards need to be adhered to with relation to their business models: Health and Safety, conduct of staff, training of staff, training of suppliers such as taxi companies used etc etc etc. Why aren't hotel staffed tested on their concierge knowledge anymore? Why aren't the MHRA lobbying and pressuring for taxi's to be metered and buses better regulated?
These are the REAL issues which are still only being paid lip service, and as i've always said; during the good times we should have been improving these issues which everyone knows about, as opposed to waiting for the bad times to come when there's no money left in the pot to do anything about them.
deb bugeja
Nov 22nd 2008, 16:02
I do not know how can we take care of tourism when the flight from Glasgow to Malta has been cancelled.
People coming to and from Scotland has to go first to Manchester and then take a plane to Malta thus increasing expenses. We always seems to make it harder for the tourist to come here when there is a lot of competition from other countries.
The thousands of people who come to Malta by the cruiser liners really feel disgusted by the state of pavements we have along Lascaris Wharf and along Marsamxette Road. They also complain about the taxi drivers's attitude and the shabby way the karrozzin driver wears.
jOHN hUDSON
Nov 21st 2008, 22:53
The cost of a flight to Malta from the North West / East or Scotland is unbelievable. Anyone can take a look at the Air Malta website, and see if they would travel from the UK to Malta in summer. The cost for a couple and a child for a flight alone, is more than a package of light and accommodation in Spain. There is little choice for the people who live North of Birmingham, as an independemt traveller, you have a choice of Air Malta with six late night one day flight to Manchester, one flight a week from Newcastle/Leeds which you cannot book with Air Malta, as they are charters and cost a fortune or two direct flights from Glasgow, they are expensive, or you travel from Glasgow via London or Manchester, which is not an option with children. Easyjet have cut their daily flights for some reason from Manchester, so next years visitor numbers from that area are bound to go down.
m farrugia
Nov 21st 2008, 20:10
Ryanair should be encouraged to operate from Germany, France, Spain, Portugal and the UK. Govt subsidies should not be given, since these are unsustainable. Instead, pressure should be mounted on MIA to reduce landing fees to levels charged by airports of the same size. It does not make sense that MIA compares its charges with Heathrow's, where hundreds of flights land and depart every hour.
At these difficult times for the world economy, travellers will only travel at very low prices and only Ryanair can guarantee these prices. Just booked a flight for three persons to Italy for about Lm16 for all three. Prices of other low cost airlines such as German Wings, Volareweb and Easyjet are often not cheap and compare with prices offered by Airmalta, averaging between Lm80-Lm100 per person.
Tourism authorities should be running after low cost airlines to encourage them to start operations to Malta and not dreading the moment a low cost airlines show interest in a route because of the possible effect on Airmalta.
Sandro Grech
Nov 21st 2008, 18:46
Dear Dr Mario de Marco
.OPEN MORE ROUTES TO LOW COST AIRLINES . Example more tourism growth in Latvia,Poland, Lithuania all because LOW COST AIRLINES . Open up Glasgow - Manchester - Copenhagen - Gatwick not Luton - Munich -- Doncaster - Dusseldorf - East Midlands - Eindoven - Hamburg - Lille - Warsaw .
r.galea
Nov 21st 2008, 18:29
No wonder we scare our tourists.Take a ride down to Bugibba Square on a Sunday afternoon and see and listen to yourself the loud music coming out of one of the establishments.To make things worse,no one seems to have the guts to stop this owner.Mind you all out there this has been going on for about 3 or 4 years now. ONLY IN MALTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PS:I would like to invite the HON Dr Mario DE Marco to visit the square on a sunday afternoon to see for himself.
michael fenech
Nov 21st 2008, 17:50
How can we have good service when we have construction workers by day and waiters in 4 and 5 star hotels by night( to make ends meet) .
If we want to compete in the tough tourism industry WE MUST TRAIN AND EDUCATE OUR WORK FORCE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.
Charles Sammut
Nov 21st 2008, 17:38
@ Joe Vella
According to you I am a "little elve" (sic) because I "degrade" (sic) the country that gave me my name.
Well you are grossly mistaken. I love Malta and would never denigrate it. However those who govern (and supposedly oppose) are a totally different story .
Since you take such a keen interest in roads I suggest that you have a nice pleasant walk along the Victoria Lines starting from Targa Gap to Falka Gap. Take a walking stick and some wellies though. This is part of a scenic walk suggested to tourists. The surface is appalling. I have reported it to the Mosta Local Council. I had done the same when this council was PN run. It is now MLP run. Let's see if there has been a real change. I doubt it, not because there is not the willingness to improve the locality but because ther aren't the funds.
Even the streets around the church in Mosta are a shambles! So, Mr Vella, it is not I who am damaging Malta's image but the incompetent authorities!
J. Mifsud
Nov 21st 2008, 17:33
Malta lacks self-discipline in its people. Self-discipline is needed from the top person in the top post to the toddler.
I do not believe that I have to keep everywhere I go clean because I might get fined, but because I am self-disciplined.
We need to love this jewel of an Island more, and keep its environment clean. The authorities have to do their part too, by keeping our roads safe and in a healthy state. I believe that I am not getting value for my money (taxes).
As a consumer and tax-payer, I demand to live in a safe and healthy environment - this includes good roads (secondary roads included)
joseph stafrace
Nov 21st 2008, 17:24
Everyone is talking about cleanliness, yet no one mentioned the shabby state of the public toilets in Valletta! Does it cost so much to rebuild them with proper facilities one would expect in the Western world! The public toilet in Strait Street is the worst with leaking plastic drains and the ever present of stale urine.
Joe Vella
Nov 21st 2008, 17:20
@ John Fenech
There is always more that one can do and should never stop trying to achieve the maximum. To do so require the efforts of all. Some of the thngs you bring up are the responsiblities of the Central/local Govt. others of that the server provider
Regarding Cleaneness, I ask why in certain Localities this is not the issue and others it is.
In regards to pollution the most offensive I found is the exhaust. Now that the Central Govt. is trying to addres the issue everyone is up in arms. EVerything come at a cost.
john fenech
Nov 21st 2008, 16:56
Joe Vella it’s laudable to be patriotic but I believe you are more party iotic. We are found wanting on three very important aspects, cleanliness, service and value for money. This situation has been so for donkey’s ears, and had been discussed for much longer!
Although we depend on tourism as one of our major economical pillars yet year in year out we lament about the same short comings which are negatively affecting the tourism; shabby environment, overcharging lack of proper training for some of the operators in the catering industry, and substandard service.
So the authorities must ensure that the proper mechanism is in place to keep the environment clean 24*365, the catering outlets will deliver service at the required standard for a reasonable cost and the standard will remain constant all the year round.
We also have to decide what the infrastructure can sustain especially as regard power, water and effluent systems and pollution.
Joe Vella
Nov 21st 2008, 16:55
@ J. Mifsud
Thanks.
My suggestion then is to write to the appropraite ministry, Prior to doing so, I would ask the Local Council to confirm to you in writing what they have told you verbally.
Joe Vella
Nov 21st 2008, 16:51
@ Charles Micallef
Cannot agree more with you. But you didn't point this out in your post. Cleaneness should start with all of us and as a starter we should not litter. I for one, many times have pointed this out to others that have littered.
However at the end, the final responsibilty is that of the local Council to ensure that the lokal is kept clean and to ensure that those who are discharged of doing so, indeed do.
Charles Micallef
Nov 21st 2008, 16:39
@ Mr Joe Vella
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and knowledge with us, I would go one further and state that we all responsible for ensuring that our streets and pavements are kept clean and not just that of the Local Council.
Your solution to everything seems to be to phone the local council.
But do you think that we would be sitting here venting our frustrations on this site, if all we had to do to resolve these issues was to do so?
Keeping our towns and Villages clean has to come from within us as individuals and not just the Local Councils
J. Mifsud
Nov 21st 2008, 16:30
@ Joe Vella
Thanks a lot for your interest. I pray to God that the authorities are as interested as your goodself.
We were told that the Central Government is responsible for the tarmacking of this road.
Maybe the Local Council is responsible for the filling-up of the crater-sized potholes, which unfortunately becomes worse after the first rains.
Thanks again.
Clemens Hasengschwandtner
Nov 21st 2008, 16:29
MALTA has to become cleaner, it's really dirty and it is getting worse. Just go for a nice walk through Birgu for example and have a look at the Grand harbor. There are 100 million Euro Yachts surrounded by an equal amount of rubbish swimming in the sea.
Considering how many people are employed with the government can it be so difficult to have two guys driving around the Grand harbor in a Dingi and picking up dirt on a daily basis.
The dirt cannot leave the grand harbor and swim out to the open sea so it just accumulates and gets more.
Face it - that's the first impression cruise line passengers get when coming to Malta and then everybody wonders why they don't return.
The hotels, the airlines and everybody involved in the industry try really hard to provide a good product - the one failing us is the government.
Joe Vella
Nov 21st 2008, 16:11
@ J. Mifsud
Had a look at the Map. It seems that Triq id-Dwar is a local street. Have you enquired with the Mosta Local Council to see who is actually responsible for the said road paving.
Joe Vella
Nov 21st 2008, 16:04
@ Charles Micallef
One should start by doing his/her part. Cleaneness is the responsability of the Local Council.
If you are witnesing refuse collectors/contractors not carrying out thier responsibilies, as one would expect them to do, all you have to do is either call or visit the local Council Office and report them.
A. Mifsud
Nov 21st 2008, 16:01
With both Alitalia and Volareweb stopping their direct operations to Milan Malpensa, I beleive that the important Northern Italian region is now severely underserved. Why not consider opening up operations from the region? If not from Malpensa - other airports in the region (such as Linate - Brescia - Bergamo or Verona) could still be a viable option. That will safeguard Airmalta's interest too.
J. Mifsud
Nov 21st 2008, 15:45
ANYONE OUT THERE?????
CAN ANYONE FROM THE MINISTRY OF INFRASTRUCTURE PLEASE NOTE - IN THE NAME OF MANY MALTESE AND FOR THE SAKE OF TOURISM - PLEASE REPAIR MOST OF OUR ROADS, ESPECIALLY IN THE OUTSKIRTS OF MOST TOWNS AND VILLAGES.
A case in point is TRIQ ID-DAWR, MOSTA. Can you please tarmac our street after 30 years of living here?
Many of our secondary roads are in a pitiful state. What does it take you ( yes you, minister), to wake up and spend some money from our hard-earned wages (taxes) to repair or tarmac our roads? How can we compete with our competitors when we leave these roads in these third-country conditions?
I know that the general election is some four years away, and unfortunately my voice will sound like a voice in the desert, but as a tax-paying citizen I expect that I live in a suitable environment.
HELLO, WAKEY WAKEY. DID YOU AT LEAST READ WHAT IS REALLY HURTING ME?????
Charles Micallef
Nov 21st 2008, 15:34
The major downfall with our Islands has almost become embarrassing to talk about. That is the lack of general cleanliness with our product Malta. This has become the number one complaint when one talks to the Tourists after the infamous timeshare touts.
In the old days, we use to talk of how unclean were some North African resorts, but as anyone who frequents these destinations can see for themselves, they have now got their act together and cleaned and tidied their resorts, and they do it day after day and not one off’s publicity stunts!
I do think that it is about time that the principle that has been extremely successful adopted with the Environmental Landscapes, which have done wonders with some our landscapes, roundabouts and traffic islands should be applied to our streets cleaning and refuse collection.
Some of the refuse collectors’/ contractors have the same mentality as the bus drivers, they just want and do dominate this service to suit them. One can see the morning mad dash to collect the rubbish, literally running from one spot to another and in their mad rush dropping litter on the roads, when they are paid to clean and not litter.
Joe Vella
Nov 21st 2008, 15:34
@ Charles Sammut
I wouldn't expect any better from a little elve like you. In all your comments you have to degrade the Country that gave you your name.
I live in Mellieha and thanks to our past/current local Council our roads are all paved and clean.
a.camilleri
Nov 21st 2008, 15:28
overpriced and neglegted, thats what our family says and thats why they go to other countries for holidays.
Charles Sammut
Nov 21st 2008, 15:19
Third world country with first world prices.
It is all well and good to have a state of the art hospital, widespread broadband internet, smart city and hi-tech industries. But tourists see a shabby, dirty country, potholed, crumbling roads and local wardens lurking round corners.
If I were a tourist I doubt that Malta would even be on my radar.
Ch. Harris
Nov 21st 2008, 15:09
Tough as it may be, with due respect its going to be even tougher for 2009, because apart from Malta every other country is in the same boat and trying to grab a share of the cake,its a wait and see game, its going to be even tougher for properties, even this moring i had a notice to buy a property in Malta, as an outsider that i will never do, because we all know why buying a property is one thing trying to sell is a different matter.. its no no. i would nover buy in Malta - prefer to rent a farm house as oppose to buying reason being the property market is going to burst same as in the uk, and this goes hand in hand with the same problem for tourism. What goes up must come down, but this time faster then flash Gorden according to most recent reports from around the world.
Alex Tanti
Nov 21st 2008, 15:09
Hon De Marco,
Any chance for our marketing bodies to consider;
a) establishing Malta on all tv news weather maps, ie: Sky, BBC, CNN, RTE', etc...
b) consider tapping more low cost routs, like Donegal, Belfast, Derry etc...
c) take Dr. Edward De Bono on board with his Thinking Palace idea..
plus suggest the over haul the public transport as should Malta offer free public transport it would surely value add this destination (believe it was a sound AD proposal)
John Watson
Nov 21st 2008, 14:59
I have been holidaying in Malta for over 40 yearand have always flown from Newcastle on full flights even though the charges are getting more expensive than flying to America. Now Air Malta have stopped the one flight they had which was always late night or very early morning
michael fenech
Nov 21st 2008, 14:09
Mr.DeMarco,I agree with all you said and I think that the government is doing a lot of good things for the tourism industry, but Sir don't you think that we are over priced for the product we offer ?
Mario Gauci
Nov 21st 2008, 14:04
We are not even getting point 5 per cent of the EU countries population, never mind the world.
There is something drastically wrong.
Taking absolutely nothing away from Dr Demarco we need tried and tested professionals for this job even if we have to import them, I hope he will take these type of pros on board.
We are here talking about probably the safest holiday destination in the world.
Ingrid Jones-cameron
Nov 21st 2008, 14:02
The gov has itself to blame in a way. When the prize restrictions were removed many sectors in the industry started charging incredible prices. How come that a pizza in Malta today costs more than for example a pizza in Sweden? WE KNOW that the costs in Sweden are much higher than Malta. A family pizza feeding 4 people WITH salad in Sweden costs LM4.50, while a pizza in (if it could be called a pizza) for one person costs LM3?
The Maltese businessman is greedy, employs people on starving wages and charges prices well over any western country. There is the problem. So tourists stay away because it is cheaper to go to other countries.
Joe Galea
Nov 21st 2008, 13:45
What about restarting flights to and from Scandinavian Destinations?
What about MTA making a serious review of the disastrous state most of the hotels and collective establishments in Malta are in? Does MTA take notice of the complaints by the tourists?
Most of the hotels are overrated and deliver a below standard service.
What about:
researching and attracting niche markets? not introducing the 50c/nite/pax as proposed in the budget, revising the water&electricity tariffs as these make the country much less competitive, upgrading our general environment from state of roads to cleanliness of beaches, etc.
If these issues and many others won't be tackled, Malta will continue to suffer as other destinations both established or newly emergent are delivering a better & cheaper overall package.
john brincat
Nov 21st 2008, 13:30
The first thing to do is control the influx of students in summer which are ruining our tourist market.
Steve Evans
Nov 21st 2008, 13:28
What ever happens as a first step open that route to Glasgow again, Britains second shopping destination and everything else that goes with Scotland as a quality destination. At least once a week!!