Government discussing new routes with airlines
Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco.
The government is having talks with airlines aimed at introducing new routes to Malta next winter, thus also raising seat capacity, Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco said today.
Speaking during a business breakfast which discussed the tourism industry, Dr de Marco touched on various aspects of the industry and said that Malta should not just focus on the usual tourism areas but also on the rural aspect and on village cores.
Qawra and Buġibba, he said, could get the extra edge with agro tourism, both areas being so close to the countryside. A vision was needed for the area and operators could not remain stuck in a time warp.
He noted that permits for the embellishment of the St Paul’s Bay promenade had just been given.
On rubbish collection in Paceville, Dr de Marco said that this had to be centralised because it was currently in a state of chaos. While the local council was in charge of the collection of residents’ rubbish, commercial outlets were responsible for the collection of their own wasteand this was creating an aura of shabbiness with bags taken out at different times. This was unacceptable and he hoped that the GRTU and the operators would play ball when a new system was proposed.
On tourist arrivals, the parliamentary secretary said that the 15 percent drop in tourism last winter matched the drop in seat capacity. Seat capacity had now improved. The Secretariat for Tourism was also having talks with airlines for new routes to be introduced in winter and seat capacity for that period should thus also improve.
Dr de Marco said that one should not panic because the country was not performing as well as last year. Apart from the recession which was a cycle that the country would get out of, 2008 was a record year in terms of arrivals.
He stressed that the €120 million being given by the EU for product improvement had to be used wisely and on time.
On requests for the removal of the five percent value added tax on restaurants, Dr de Marco said this would cost the government €30 million. Was this the right time to do it?
He pointed out that when the levy on alcohol was removed, most restaurants did not pass this decrease to the consumer.
The managing director of EMCS Consulting group said that restaurants in Malta were not cheap at all. They were in fact on par with Italy. Value for money greatly influenced summer travel and Malta was pretty much on the high side.
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Joseph V. Grech
May 14th 2009, 18:20
Somebody read the news in the Times today that ''33 immigrants have landed in Gozo''. Like many other readers he was dismayed and sent a Comment part which ends like this: ''Sort it out (the problem of illegal immigration) now before any more. Your tourism industry is going to be hit hard too. No one wants to be sunbathing on the beach on holiday and confronted with scenes like this''. Wise words indeed - and perfectly in context!
Like most Maltese I urge Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism Mario Demarco to take note - and appropriate action please! He might perhaps start by convincing all those that allow their humanitarian considerations to override the national interest to have a change of heart - for Malta's good. NOW - before it's too late!
Otherwise his hard work to turn our tourism industry round may fail.
Karl Abela
May 14th 2009, 14:32
Unless we start loving our country, tourists will not keep returning to Malta. Despite various embellishment programs and discipline enforced by the government the country still leaves much to be desired in terms of offering an experience to our tourists. To the large extent, our towns still look shabby and disorganised. Our pavements and roads still have along way to go. Buses and heavy construction vehicles still toxicate our lungs every time we go for a wallk on our promenades. People still selfishly litter the beaches after their noisy bbq's...ect etc etc.
Julian Borg
May 14th 2009, 14:28
This is a great idea, and something I've been hoping would be done for some time now.
This shouldn't be done in every village core, only the ones that have cultural significance and were not intended for modern traffic management to begin with.
These village cores were designed and managed around the people. Can you imagine giving back the village squares to the locals; kids playing by the fountain, permanent chess boards for the old boys to huddle around and play in the mid-afternoon. Tourists exploring the piazza without being run over by a car that is trying to squeeze through a lane that couldn't even accommodate the horse and carriage that it was provided for let alone cars and buses; Having a Pizza outside on a table without the ongoing battle of pedestrian vs. restaurant, fighting for the few meters of pavement that they can walk on.
Good Luck Mario, let's bring back the villages my grandparents remember so fondly.
Sim Colston
May 14th 2009, 14:04
How right you are :-)
A little improvement would make such a difference to our dive sites.
Not only for tourists but for all of us.
Look at the state of Cirkewwa our main dive site, visited by so many tourists!
r ferriggi
May 14th 2009, 12:30
to Dr Demarco,,,
one honest serious suggestion:
decent basic facilities at dive spots around malta and gozo - to assist this revenue earning industry.
toilets, a shower ( even pay-shower!) and some basic shelter or shade!!! much to ask??