Updated: Opposition calls for further assistance for tourism

Adds government reaction

The government should draw up a strategy to help the tourist industry ensure that Malta remains an all-year destination, the opposition's spokesman for tourism said today.

Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca said warnings made last week by the president of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association should be heeded, because there would be many job losses if Maltese tourism slid to seasonality.

The Labour spokesman said the government should not impose further costs on tourism operators and should make Malta more competitive, by, for example reducing VAT on restaurant services.

It should also set rigid time frames for the completion of tourist-related projects and should embark on a new programme to clean-up and embellish Malta.

Government reaction

Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco in a reaction to the PL statement, said the government had been giving direct assistance to the tourism industry ever since the international financial and economic crises broke out.

Furthermore, the government had always been against seasonality and had promoted niche activities during the shoulder and winter months.

Dr deMarco recalled how the government had held talks with the banks and brought about a 12-month moratorium on the repayment of capital by hoteliers.

It launched an interest subsidy scheme and introduced assistance schemes for the organisation of conferences and the promotion of investment.

It had also given assistance for sports tourism and for tourism promotion. Local councils were assisted to hold activities with a touristic element.

The MTA budget had also been beefed up and as a result tourism promotion continued throughout the summer.

Dr deMarco said the Ministry of Resources had improved street cleaning and extra funds for cleaning were given to local council for that purpose.

€120 million in EU funds were also being invested in upgrading the tourist product in Qawra, St Paul’s Bay, Sliema, Valletta, Marsaxlokk and Wied iz-Zurrieq, among others.