€1.8 million spent on tourism studies centre in Qala

A branch of the Institute for Tourism Studies was inaugurated in Qala yesterday by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi following a €1.8 million investment.

The project, which involved the demolition of the previous structure, was co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.

Dr Gonzi said money was being invested in training human resources in Gozo, with particular attention to the tourism aspect and the institute was an example of this. It was useless investing in facilities such as restaurants and hotels if the level of service was not up to scratch.

The institute has a restaurant, bar, main kitchen, kitchens for training, a reception area, lecture rooms, a laundry and facilities for housekeeping and a nine-room "mini hotel", which, apart from being used for training, can accommodate foreign students here on exchange visits.

Dr Gonzi said the government was maximising EU funds to invest in the training and teaching of students. The investment was in line with the government's 2015 Vision, of which Gozo was one of the seven pillars.

Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono said the project made it possible for Gozitan workers and students who wished to pursue a career in tourism to benefit from further training and a wider selection of courses in Gozo.

The ITS Gozo centre started operating in 1989. Courses were transferred to the premises in Qala, which was previously a secondary school for girls. The institute, which opened its doors to students at the beginning of this scholastic year, trains 40 full-time students and offers courses to another 100 part-timers.

Mrs Debono said the institute was one of many projects utilising EU funds. She mentioned the decompression chamber, which was instrumental last month to save a diver's life and which was doubling as an oxygen treatment room, the upgrading of the archaeological museum, the restoration of the fortifications around the Cittadella and the sewage treatment plant.