Kevin J. Drake, director, communications and PR, Malta Tourism Authority, Valletta
Action taken against timeshare touts
With reference to Peter Wognum's letter Dishonest Timeshare Touts Spoiling Malta (June 25), I would like to clarify a few of the points that were raised.
Over the past two to three years legislation and rules regulating timeshare vendors, or OPCs as they are referred to, have been stepped up considerably. Today, the behaviour of all OPCs is subject to intense scrutiny, while the few less-than-ethical timeshare sales reps, along with the companies they represent, are liable to pay significant fines as well as, in certain cases, the suspension of their license for breaking these regulations. Moreover, the number of OPCs and/or timeshare companies that have been charged in this regard has increased consistently.
In 2006, the Malta Tourism Authority's Quality Assurance (Enforcement) division pressed charges on 21 occasions, increasing to 62 last year. In the first few months of this year 33 charges have so far been issued.
The MTA will continue to remain vigilant in ensuring that the OPC code of conduct and regulations are adhered to at all times, taking all the necessary measures to charge those individuals and companies who flaunt the rules.
Anyone witnessing or being at the receiving end of unacceptable behaviour by timeshare reps may report such incidents to the MTA (info@visitmalta.com or 2291 5400) or by lodging a complaint at the nearest police station.
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Paul Winter
Jul 11th 2009, 17:36
I have hard evidence of being scammed by a time share company in Malta which I forwarded
to MTA .... this evidence not only broke MTA laws but also Maltese laws ..... what reply did I get from MTA ??/........it is a civil matter and they cannot get involved ....who is scratching who's back here ?
Will the last tourist leaving Malta who is also sick to death of timeshare scams and companies ....please turn the light off please!!!
Rory O'Neill
Jun 30th 2009, 20:03
Whenever I have been approached by Timeshare reps I usually find the standard reply of "which bit of **** *** do you not understand" always does the trick! never been bothered a second time!
Karen Hayden
Jun 30th 2009, 19:45
We visited Malta in April and have never experienced such utter harassment from these touts in my life. In Bugibba we were chased down the street by a female tout and we had to tell her to back off and the man in Mellieha was an absolute nightmare and was so persistent. I wrote to the Maltese Tourist Board and never heard a single thing. I can honestly say that my holiday and my husbands was marred by these pain in the backside individuals. I must reiterate, that most of the time we just kept our heads down and walked on, but by the end of the two weeks, tempers became frayed. What a shame, as Malta is a lovely, friendly island too.
Steven Brockwell
Jun 30th 2009, 19:10
i worked in time share for a while its the reps how should be complaining. most people that do take a tour doing just for their free gifts. and end up touring the whole island. the scam is the other way round ? some people have been taking time share tours all their life so what. if you dont want to do it just say no. simple as that.? oh they cant say no because the get a bottle of vodka only its just a miniature one ??????????? greed thats all it is from the UPS side !
stephen mifsud
Jun 30th 2009, 15:51
i have been harrassed in Buggiba several times and i find it a very negative effect on tourists as for me its annoying when they harrass you and lie to you ...its a scam and it should be stopped as its chasing tourists away from malta .....Time share reps be gone forever!!!!
nicholas coppini
Jun 30th 2009, 15:28
Dear Mr Drake,
you can have your enforcement team set up their office on Tower Road opposite the Preluna Hotel and between Surfside and Torri. These are the Sliema hot spots where tourists are constantly harassed. Here one can see a number of timeshare reps wearing tourist info T shirts; so 3rd class! :(
Another Hot Zone is the harbour cruises quay at the Ferry where competition to fill the boats leaves only one victim THE TOURIST. Solicitation should be banned BASTA. Anybody selling anything should be confined to a booth and only speak to people where they are spoken to.
TRW O'Neill
Jun 30th 2009, 14:57
Come on Kevin, get it sorted, it is easy, send "dummy "couples out, let them hear the patter, & decide if it reflects well. if not have the touts evicted & contact the firm that is employing them. Close down the time share side of the company, forbid them to employ touts in the future, as L Galea suggests, they should advertise on line or by fliers put into lobbies of Hotels or bars. WHERE THERE IS A WILL , THERE IS A WAY. QED
Mr B J Simmons
Jun 30th 2009, 14:15
How often will any official Maltese body take much notice about any such problem, be it any number of minor irritations.
Most cannot be bothered, be they the department or the individual employees. I have often been advised not to bother with minor irritations as nothing will be done. I give you bus drivers and street furniture as classic examples. Those purpetrating these annoyances know that little if anything will ever be done.
Your correspondant is right when he says that such irritations will mean that some will vote with their feet and return less often or not at all.
I however have the answer for the retched time share touts. I walk alone in such areas and avoid Buggiba as often as possible. These leaches rarely approach people on their own, so if you are a couple, walk a few paces behind the other.
If you wait for the authorities put things right in this lovely Island you'll be too old to enjoy the Maltese hospitality!
Tony Stivala
Jun 30th 2009, 14:10
This letter contradicts the purpose
So according to Mr Drake In 2006, the Malta Tourism Authority's Quality Assurance (Enforcement) division pressed charges on 21 occasions, increasing to 62 last year. In the first few months of this year 33 charges have so far been issued.
Some success!!!!!! It just shows you that these people are nothing but a bunch of anarchists when it comes to law. The solution is simple, either they operate from a shop (licenced premises) and not from hotel foyers OR even better NOT OPERATE AT ALL. They are nothing but pests that pester the innocent tourist and some Maltese
R.Weninger
Jun 30th 2009, 13:43
Dear Mr. Drake,
I witness what I feel is unacceptable behaviour by timeshare reps every morning along Tower Road and in front of the Preluna Hotel and at the Ferries . What do you consider being unacceptable behaviour ? And is it my job to clean up the scams going on along the Sliema seafront ? I repeat , I'm really sorry for the British tourists being targeted by these OPC's . But it is your job to enforce your regulations or to change them if necessary ! Just send someone from your authority along every morning to watch the game that is being played . Otherwise our guests will vote on your actions by not booking a repeat visit to Malta .Who else is responsible if not the MTA ? You will be judged by the declining number of visitors .
r sammut
Jun 30th 2009, 13:23
K.J. Drake from comments it seems that this practice is more rampant than you fathom! The vested interest of parties involved may be the cause for the dragging of feet. The prevailing finger pointing is at foreign OPCs being the worst offenders, but who is enrolling these guys?
David Haydn-Evans
Jun 30th 2009, 12:41
I have been a frequent and regular visitor to Malta for many years and the constant harrassment by time-share touts is the only thing I dislike about your, otherwise, delightful island. I readily acknowledge that the worst offenders appear to be British.
A couple of years ago, I was informed by a lady from the MTA that every survey held among visitors showed this particular problem to be at the top of their dislikes list.
This being the case, and in view of the many unfavourable letters/comments which have appeared over the years, could the MTA please tell us, officially, why the practice is allowed to continue? I don't doubt Mr Drake's statistics for one moment but it is apparent his efforts are not bearing fruit.
Michael Bartolo
Jun 30th 2009, 11:38
Come on Kevin, we can do better! For as long as one tourist is harassed by these louts, you are not doing enough!
David Hill
Jun 30th 2009, 10:54
It would be a good idea if the information regarding reporting Time Share Touts was displayed on the travel company notice boards in every hotel.
CHARLIE ODONNELL
Jun 30th 2009, 10:26
is that the same kevin j.drake,to whom i sent an email to in december last year,voicing my
concerns about touts,and never had the courtesy to respond!!!
Galea. L
Jun 30th 2009, 09:53
Why should timeshare touts be allowed to operate at all?
They should be stopped and if anyone is caught s/he should be heavily fined and expelled from Malta if s/he is a foreigner.
Hotels who want to offer timeshare should do so only on their website.
If persons want to buy timeshare they can look for offers on websites.
Timeshare touts (and others) are killing our goose that lays the golden eggs.
Charles Micallef
Jun 30th 2009, 09:43
This is window dressing at its best and it happens on each and every occasion that one of our harassed visitors write to the Times. The question that MTA has to address is what are we doing about those clients who vote with their feet, in other words they get harassed by timeshare touts, do not tell anyone and simply do not return. I think that there is a lot more of them than the ones who write and complaint to the Times!
We all know that the reason that Timeshare Touts are still harassing our visitors is because the people who could make a difference and eradicate this problem are the same ones have vested interests in Timeshare, sit on Government Boards and have enough pull with the Authorities to allow the harassment to continue!