Tourists complain of 'ghost towns' as hotels close for winter

mary mackay

Dec 16th 2009, 17:48

i was reccomended to spend new year at malta.we have been through a lot this year and wanted to go sumwhere nice.this article has put a doubt in my mind.now all we can do is wait and see.we have saved very hard to have this holiday,i just hope it will b worth it.if i enjoy the holiday we would go back.Mary

Joe Portelli

Oct 12th 2009, 06:00

Well said Jesmond.

Its the culture not the size.

Look at Singapore, small, no natural resouces, not even drinking water and yet, their culture is 'collective' not 'individualistic' , they work hard, they are all proud of ther country and keep it clean, organised and never cheat you when shopping (cant say that here?).

They have millions living in an areas smaller then Malta - they dont mix politics with normal life and basically thye live a straight life. Perfect ? No. No one is. But on table of success, they are on Top and Malta at the bottom - change the culture , kick politics out of life, think collectively (think of the neighbours today and tomorrow) and enjoy life - no grumble and swear , it our choice really and not the foreigner's ?

Jesmond Micallef

Oct 10th 2009, 21:21

I am not a tourist but living in a foreign country but I am also afraid that somebody calls me a terrorist simply because I AM A MALTESE as has already happened !!! I was told not to be sensitive by a native professional person, so I ask the tourists not to be so sensitive also. But SMALL LITTLE MALTA, submission seems a never ending story in Malta, if its not the occupiers psychology, it's the visitors................this time !!!!

Malta may seem polluted and the rubbish is a problem, no doubt !!! Some Maltese need to be sent abroad for education in exchange with foreign students learning English in Malta !!!! What a splendid idea !! Some places of interest for the under-developed Maltese who pollute and don't care for the environment, would be Nazi concentration camps in Germany and Poland, ....................then these Maltese will learn to become Environmentalists too.......... What an educational programme that would be, I am very sure that the Maltese would become WORLD LEADERS IN IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; CARE FOR ANIMALS SUCH AS BIRDS, RECYCLING, ETC ETC ETC.........................!!!!!!!!!

Learning by doing helps you see, experience is very very important in the learning process................. !!!!

J Bajada

Oct 10th 2009, 17:38

All businesses here in Malta have just one aim in their mind..making money fast. I believe this has to change drastically. Their target must be that of offering the optimal service to its clients. Take a look at foreign countries and you will surely see what i mean. How come i find products on the internet less than half the price of here in Malta? And that includes postage! Whenever i need to buy something, the first thing i do is search for it on the internet, because i know it is more feasible than buying it here. The same principle goes for those businesses offering a service. Their priorities must change, and with a little bit a good planning, that can be made possible successfully.

Pete & Jakki Revell

Oct 10th 2009, 11:29

We are back in Malta soon, for two weeks, staying at a "4 Star Hotel" just off the Mosta Road St Pauls area. We are wondering how "4 star" it will be.
We have stayed in all areas of Malta & Gozo over a lot of years, each time being a different hotel experience. We have had plush surroundings, mediocre and the down-right filthy. All of which are advertised as an amazing experience for a holiday. Is that known as "poetic licence"?
After reading some of the comments on here from mainly Maltese people, we have to agree that the hotel accomodation needs to be drastically upgraded, as most of it has not been done since the "Boom then Bust" times of the 1980's.
If Malta wants to be another 'Algarve or Costa Brava', then some of the 'Boom money needs to be spent before you all go Bust'.

In England we have a TV programme called the "Hotel Inspector", featuring a hotel chain owner picking up on bad service, conditions etc. and putting them back on the rails.
After 26 visits to Malta by my wife & myself, we would love to have that job sorting out Maltese hotels!

ALISTAIR BUSUTTIL

Oct 10th 2009, 08:14

if you see the hotels review on the website trip advisor you will not wonder why tourists are chosing different destinations.If you have been working in a hotel like qawra palace hotel you know what i mean,the authorities should give an ultimatum to these hotels ,raise the standars and thats it .Most four star hotels in qawra and bugibba would be regarded as two star in most destinations.

D. Fenech

Oct 9th 2009, 16:12

The Malta tourism product as a whole need serious management.
I am not surprised Palm Court is closing for the winter. If we had a 'Tourism Authority' in Malta, that hotel should have closed down a long time ago. But in this country, everything goes. How on earth Pallazzin got its 4 star rating is anybodies guess.
Its about time that we learn that we cannot fool our guests anymore. They are going on the internet and telling the whole world what overrated hotels we have in Malta. Why doesn't the minister go into Trip advisor website to see how our guests are describing our hotels. How about some professionals managing our hotels instead of building speculators.

sandro grech

Oct 9th 2009, 16:09

lately in valletta we had notte bianca in bugibba this winter the goverment should organise notte nera with most hotels closed down with no Christmas lighting and ........... I guess no MP's have any investment in Bugibba !!!!!

Mark Cushcieri

Oct 9th 2009, 15:23

But I also do understand that it is sometimes annoying to hear them shout and make noise jump from one seat to the other on buses etc...especially the italians...I think they think that malta is an italian colony sometimes.

Mark Cushcieri

Oct 9th 2009, 15:21

remember those you are calling 'noisy students' will grow up and might come back for a 2nd holiday or a 3rd or a 4th where they wont make much noise becuase by then they would have grown up... while those tourists over 60s might not consider coming back for another holiday since they would not have the energy left..so maybe bringing those you term 'noisy students' might turned out beneficial in the long run. Instead of just saying they are noisy and unwelcome one should instruct the english learning schools to instruct the students to respect our peace and tranquility and control them a bit...if they can't control them then they should rethink the future of the school. I think this is the way forward.

olaf cassar

Oct 9th 2009, 15:17

PALM COURT Let us not try to be too wise with our comments regarding Palm Court & Mr. Borg's business ventures. Most of us fail to remember that long before we dreamt of having Ryanair & Easyjet, Malta Bargains were the ones to save our backside. Many are those repeat tourists who were introduced to Malta thanks to this shortlived but fruitful airline. Until then, getting a flight to Malta was the biggest headache. Despite the negative reviews found online regarding Palm Court, these same business people are the ones to open a new door, leading to many opportunities. Quite a few small businesses in the area have got to say something nice to Mr. Borg - 'Many thanks, your business has helped us grow'.

Raymond Cachia

Oct 9th 2009, 14:55

Bugibba needs to be torn down and re-built from scratch.

After the Valletta Project, I suggest that whoever is in government there should tackle this town next.

The Centre of town is atrocious but what is worse is the back streets. Vacant apartment buildings, which are really nothing but holes in the wall stacked on top of each other that are totally uninhabitable except for just a few days, should be properly rebuilt for serious buyers and families (such a total waste of land). Some areas should be torn down and given back to Mother Earth and nature. I still remember going to Bugibba in the early 1980's, before it was attacked by building contractors and was enthralled by the open green fields rolling out to sea. It was beautiful then.

Other than a few exclusive hotels, this area should be turned into a proper town for people, instead of the cheap barf-fest for tourists and a pick-up point for local lotharios that it is.

Goes to show you how greed for immediate profits, with no regards for the future can bring a place to ruin. Destroyed the goose that laid the golden egg. Gozo are you listening?

joe portelli

Oct 9th 2009, 14:54

@ Douglas Bagnall

Come to Wales, North Wales. We dont encourgae noisey twits, pollution is under control, all welsh folk also speak great english, no need to change to euro, prices are monitored by loacl authority, drivers are caught and fined when they break the law, politics hardly exists, thousands of sandy beaches, many you can have to yourself all day, no illegal imingrants, no shouting, no rubbish in the streets, no over build up areas, no time share hassling, no police brutality, we restrict students to Cardif, Bangor and Aberystwits, we have an area 400 times the size of Malta, NHS on the door, no brothels, no swearing in public, no drug pushers in every piazza, no Paceville, need I say more ?

karl mallia

Oct 9th 2009, 13:33

@mark borg

Why - are there no students in sliema?most probably its worse then bugibba but still bugibba is still a place to be avoided. Mr Dougall Bagnall - go to Gozo while it is still not yet been destroyed.

karl mallia

Oct 9th 2009, 13:29

Its a bit too late is it not?..... the rape of our lovely country has been done and that is shown in the dwindling numbers of tourists.. . . A get rich quick mentality is what has been on many peoples mind in the last 20 years - the authorities took this to their advantage and now we are left in a jungle of delipitaded buildings shabiness unorganised streets etc etc we all know what we have! With all this we have lost - if we ever had any, our pride. We have forgotten our history and what treasures we have - now where in the world do you ever find what Malta has; but still we have driven away people coming to our shores! They have gone to places that offer more for their money!! I do not blame them.
We are happier to accept drunk students to come and throw up all over our streets - we are happier to bring in cruise liners for a day - we are happier to break down old arcitecture for new!
We have forgotten who we are what we have and what we can be!!

Mark Cushcieri

Oct 9th 2009, 11:53

yes something must be done about this abuse of prices..you hear tourist saying..there it is 3 euros here its 2 euros there its 7 euros..and the charge them more becuase they see they are foreigners..this is having a terrible adverse effect on tourism..the goverment should start cracking down on these abusers..if they want to cheat people..then they should not have the right to have a business but first they get fines obvoiously..that is how I see it...and from these fines we could clean up all our street and some proper marketing.

L Buhagiar

Oct 9th 2009, 08:36

First the hoteliers try to milk the tourists dry by charging exorbitant fees. They keep their hotels in a state that looks like something coming out of Iraq (during the war) and now when the going gets tough they complain and beg the Government to bail them out out of the taxpayers pockets. Why doesn't Robby Borg take a look at his so called hotel and say mea culpa. Very arrogant indeed>

Mark Cushcieri

Oct 9th 2009, 01:42

Douglas Bagnall
I'd recommend going to Sliema instead of Bugibba..

G Darmanin

Oct 8th 2009, 21:34

As suggested by M. Fleri I searched for Mr Borg's hotel on Tripadvisor and from the comments it seems that tourists are not afraid to venture out at night as Mr Borg said. Rather it seems that after the first visit tourists are afraid to venture in his hotel!

Douglas Bagnall

Oct 8th 2009, 21:31

This is too late to reach your pages, I know, but I will try anyway to say my bit.
We love your little island, and you ever so nice people, your polite ways, great restaurants, polite service in the shops, we could go on and on about every thing we love about you so why do you not wan`t us? O/K we are old and don`t look the part but we have money to spend, BUT you prefer younger noisy So Called Students.
We spent lovely Hols at the Metropole in Sliema until these unruly people took over.
We would love to return to Malta, please tell us where to go.

marthese mussett

Oct 8th 2009, 21:16

I used to live in Qawra,and used to work at a hotel there that was busy all year round,my workmates and I used to beg for a day's leave.I could work anywhere I wanted because the hotels were busy and crying out for staff.Now it's a sad situation,most hotels shut down or demolished and built into flats.The traffic wardens pick on the tourists and book them for something trivial.Only a few weeks ago my husband got booked because the car was just a few centimetres out of the parking bay.I used to like living there and going for walks by the sea,the ice cream vendors were friendly and never ripped me off,but I used to see timeshare people annoying tourists.I hope something can be done to revamp the area,the bus service is very good,you could get a direct bus to practically anywhere in Malta.

Alex Tonna

Oct 8th 2009, 20:24

Have been working in this area for the better part of 27 years. Mainly by providing basic foodstuffs to the Catering/Hotels sector. With all sincerity, I cannot recall a worse year than 2009.
We are all aware of the Global "Credit Crunch" that has inevitably also effected Malta in general. However, locally, the "Bugibba, Qawra, St.Paul's Bay" area was undoubtedly the worst hit. My personal opinion is that this particular area needs one hell of a PROPER general facelift, with a systematic and organised backup to keep it constantly in pristine condition. Also, besides a few exceptions, most of our Hotels, Restaurants etc, are well below international standards, even when compared to other areas in Malta. To make matters worse, besides the sub-standard product we also have unjustified high prices. Consequently, it is no surprise that tourists "available" decide to go elsewhere.
On certain days, Bugibba looked like a "Ghost Town" even in the height of summer. I dread to think about how its going to look like this coming winter.
Points to ponder my friends .. .. points to ponder .. ..

smifsud

Oct 8th 2009, 19:28

like i said many times before Malta is going through a very bad time and its going to get worse so batter down the hatches and ride out the storm because its going to get ugly ...maybe you should stock on some BIgilla before you hide ....!

Ray Buttigieg

Oct 8th 2009, 19:01

the problem in qawra/bugibba is the location itself. The place is a let down in the peak of summer let alone in the cold winter months. This so called tourist resort is a shame to Malta and what Malta can and has to offer the tourist. Its is dirty, planned badly, unattractive with hardly any descent night life and disorganised. Also due to its cheap stock of accomodation, it is attracting a lot of immigrants and people with a notorious social standard that does not complement a tourist resort. Its like having a tourist resort in the Bronx or Brixton in London.

LOUISE CONNOR

Oct 8th 2009, 18:26

poor malta especially bugibba and qawra, i visited malta as usuall in july and was very saddened to see how quite the streets and beaches were.every business is suffering.it is not the same as it was, thriving little bars and restaurants with good entertainment. i have made a lot of friends in malta over the past 25 years (i have been coming since i was 6 ,i,m almost 30 now).i had a little cry this year when i saw a lot of hotels ect shut down.anyway heres to the futre and no more credit crunches. it would be such a shame to see this beautiful island a ghost island, it has so much to offer.

Maria Galea

Oct 8th 2009, 17:54

Bugibba should not even be open in Summer unless something radical happens to the place. Last time I went it reminded me of a run down area in Naples back in 1960. Is the St. Paul's Bay Council on long leave of absence because they do not seem to be doing much at all and all I read about them is that they are more or less at a standstill.
I agree with all those who mentioned price rip offs. These happen all over Malta, even in a small greengrocer's in Mellieha. Why are there no prices on the goods? Is it time we brought back Price Control as we had in the 60's. It worked then - why should it not work now? at least to stop the greed of some shop and stall keepers. Greed may have benefits but those are only short lived. In the long run they are the ones who end up out of business and the trouble is that they pull others down with them. I say bring back PRICE CONTROL all over the island and on all items.

john harris

Oct 8th 2009, 17:44

The demise of Malta can be summed up in one word GREED,Hotels full throughout the summer with so called English language Students who contribute nothing to the economy but ensure that Tourists who have saved hard for their dream holiday will not return to malta again and as they spread the word ensure that potential tourists are lost.Flights-Cheaper to fly London-New York than to Malta ( With AIR MALTA).This is a wonderful Island with so much to offer but i fear that unless you take a long hard look at yourselves and decide wether or not you want Tourists then hard times are ahead.

J.Bonnici

Oct 8th 2009, 17:07

M.Fleri's comment is very valid. With 73% of the 284 reviewers on www.tripadvisor.com not recommending this hotel, you can't expect full occupancy. 176 of those who posted a comment described the hotel as poor or terrible.

Josephine Spiteri ex-pat/ London

Oct 8th 2009, 16:26

id i read correctly Bugibba and Qawra are a dump? my sentiments exactly. i second that in its entire contest Moira Heath@ and i wouldn't dream of inviting my family from the UK to stay in that area, maybe a few years ago but certainly not now or never ever again amen, it now fits the lower class of tourists who are mostly foreign students who haven't got two cents to rub together.... Sorry after spending just 2 days in that damp i came up with the above verdict and final conclusion. Adios Amigos Hasta la vista Hombre'

Moira Heath

Oct 8th 2009, 14:41

Bugibba and Qawra are a dump. You walk on the promenade by daylight and you're always afraid you're going to step into some dog poo (after dark you have no chance - you will end up stepping into one for sure). Then there are the beer bottles strewn all over the place, the take away remains, the delapidated buildings in the back streets etc etc. For a truly remarkable experience, take a young toddler for a walk there, and you'll start seeing many things which before you used to ignore (you'll start repeating "don't step there, don't touch that, leave that on the ground" etc etc).

If I were a tourist, I wouldn't stay in Bugibba if they paid me. We can moan however much we want, but the proverbial poo is starting to hit the fan now and no one's liking it.

Mark Cushcieri

Oct 8th 2009, 13:00

Where's the brand Malta and smart city now...it has a new name now..Ghost City.

Alfred Baldacchino

Oct 8th 2009, 12:37

Very well said Joseph Brincat. Like all else, in this business it is survival of the fittest. And if one looks around him one can see that the fittest are surviving.

Peter Korsten

Oct 8th 2009, 12:18

"And the foreign environmentalists are not helping us, neither. They are ruining all our and government's efforts in attracting business to Malta. Show them the doors."

Excuse me? If there's something that bothers the heck out of me in Malta, except for the state of the roads, it's the rubbish you find all around. Also, I'm not particularly happy that I developed asthma because of the pollution.

You can't go anywhere without seeing a piece of land used as a dumping ground, because some idiot was too lame to dispose of his rubbish properly. So how does that look to tourists?

The airport, which ten years ago wouldn't have looked out of place somewhere in a banana republic, has had an upgrade and now looks modern and attractive, so at least the first impression is positive.

But overall, there's a sense of pollution and grime, simply because the locals, on average, don't care too much about the environment. Combine that with the famed Maltese customer service ("it's not my fault"), and you have a recipe for tourists that visit once, and never return.

Pawlu Agius

Oct 8th 2009, 11:59

What is to expect after we destroyed much of the countyside to replace it with monstrous ugly blocks of apartments, so unsustainable that it ended with everywhere labelled 'to let/for sale'.

And what about the tower cranes, bulldozers and hi-macs digging here and there, turning Malta from a once paradise to complete hell. This is the result of unsustainable development.

KEEP IT UP MEPA. After allowing destruction of the countryside, now MEPA has entered into its 2nd phase: Destroying what remains of the old buildings which used to make our towns ... again to be replaced with apartments!

Chris Grioli

Oct 8th 2009, 11:58

Hotel businesses should take it upon themselves to improve things...why is it always the government's fault. Whatever government there is, for sure it is not his fault there is a global recession.

So why not make your rates reasonable? Why not put up really good rates during the lean winter seasons, so that the Maltese population can make use of these hotels? All too much I find that even in winter, the cost is simply too much.

And let's do away with these two and three star hotels. Sometimes (some of them obviously) they are nothing but a dark medium sized-room with old furniture I would not leave lying around in my garage! Again, let's not everyone jump to his defence...not all of them.

With all due respect, it is hardly surprising Palm Court is running into difficulties. Service was nothing but rude and improper when my British relatives were visiting. Definitely good prices, but still, even at cheap rates, one expects decent service, especially from the staff...

Ultimately, I am real sad that these things happen to our dear country....dejjem il-haddiem iz-zghir jispicca jaqlaghha.

Karl Abela

Oct 8th 2009, 11:43

@ J Farrugia

You asked for an opinion from the sales & marketing teams, so I can reply quite accurately.

1. Malta’s increase in wages in the last 10 years is a direct effect of many hotels closing down. The average salaries in Tunisia, Morocca, Libya, Turkey and Croatia are under 10 eur/day. In Malta the average is over 40 eur/day. Hence the reason why so many hotels in Southern Spain, Crete, Cyprus, Greece and Corfu close down.

2. Air Malta remains the biggest obstacle with its high prices, inflexible schedule and such a bad coverage from prospective countries such as the Scandinavian countries, Spain, Portugal, and the emerging eastern countries.

3. Brand Malta was one of the best initiatives to help improve services and general tourist awareness. It became a political ball and the initiative was shot down shortly after its inception.

4. Higher earning industries such as Internet Betting, I.T., Pharmaceuticals, and others like Lufthansa Technique are more appealing to the younger generation and have contributed to a huge brain drain.

5. If the country can afford, say, 3 million euros of advertising a year, then our competitors can afford 200 million euros.

Enough said.

M. Vella

Oct 8th 2009, 11:43

well said J. Farrugia

We are a population (well not all) of dilettanti, always expecting the Government to provide without wanting to earn money!

Come on guys pull up your socks. Hard work never killed anyone!

David Hill

Oct 8th 2009, 11:26

Interesting to see Mr Borg is to close his 380-room, three-star Palm Court Hotel in Qawra.
According to the Malta Bargains web site The Palm Court has been called "Qawra Inn" for the last year
Doing an online search with Malta Bargains I find that I can book a week for 2 at the Qawra Inn for 13th to 20th Feb 2010 for GBP337.64.
Something doesn't add up.

CLAUDIO BONDIN

Oct 8th 2009, 11:18

One of the hoteliers listed in the article should better see what reviews his hotel has on the UK websites! It is useless keeping old and shabby hotels open - CLOSE THEM FOR EVER and do a favour to the Maltese tourism industry. By keeping shabby, old hotels with below par service is a disservice in itself to the tourism industry in Malta and a negative advert for the Maltese Islands!

MIKE DESIRA

Oct 8th 2009, 11:15

Are these the same people who welcomed Ryan Air and the band of usual low-costers? Are these the same people who lambast our national airline for not doing enough for them?

Here's a suggestion.......

Copy what you consider is good practice, and offer a bed-only package for EU 0.99 per person per night, without lowering standards, of course.

l borg

Oct 8th 2009, 10:57

being employed in the catering industry for the last 22 years i learnt that nothing is fovever in the tourist business
hotels open and close so do resturants and even we employees never have a sense of job security
the heydays of bigibba and qawra have gone and tourist and many maltese prefer the sliema st julians area
with all the 5 stars in that area and good resturants and night clubs no wonder
i did the same and sought employment there

Francis Bellizzi

Oct 8th 2009, 10:44

The situation will not improve until the local shops and market traders stop ripping off tourists. I was at the Sunday market in Valletta recently when I went to buy two cheescakes. I heard a tourist who had just bought some cheesecakes say to her partner that she had just paid five euros. She also commented that Malta was the dearest country they had visited recently. ( Another couple of tourists lost! )
Don`t forget that one disgruntled tourist will mix with hundreds of relations and friends when he returns home. Also we are competing with all the European countries around us.
It does not matter how many millions the government spends in advertising abroad. When people go back home they allways relate thier personal experiences to thier friends.

Joe Diacono

Oct 8th 2009, 10:33

Of course this is worrying, however the writing has been on the wall for a long time.
Malta can never compete against our direct competitors primarily because of our size.
However there are many untapped niche markets we could concentrate on.
The third age market, the cultural market, rambler groups, religious tourism, sport tourism to mention but a few.
It is common knowledge that winter Tour Operator Business diminishes, the only way to combat that would have been with special offers given out in advance thus giving enough time for TourOperators to publish these rates.
However having said that ,there are also the on line companies who could easily upload rates and special offers and have these on line at the last minute.
The finincial crunch has hit everyone's pockets, clients especially in the shoulder and low season will only move to destinations with the best offers.
Malta can survive with a healthy mix, and this is what all those involved swimming in the same waters should concentrate, (in collaboration with MTA) on. The days of marketing one.s self as a stand alone are over. In togetherness there is strength.
Those who work together win together.

Joe Azzopardi

Oct 8th 2009, 10:29

The hoteliers should first recognise their responsibilities in rendering most areas in which they operate, and particularly Bugibba, into little more then ugly slums in which nobody wants to stay and live. Then stop unjustifiably overcharging for anything they provide, and finally think of ways in which they, with their considerable resources, and not government with the tax payer's money can consolidate and expand their market.

Darby Allen

Oct 8th 2009, 10:22

One thing which puts tourists off is the perception of greed: for instance, a restaurant on Islet Promenade in Bugibba was displaying a board yesterday (7 Oct - photograph available) which showed that a "pint" of Skol Lager was reduced from €2.60 to €1.75; I've never paid more than £1.50, and it is generally available for €1.20.
This might seem petty, but when the tourists return home this sort of thing is what they remember, and tell their friends and families about.

M. Fleri

Oct 8th 2009, 10:16

Maybe be Mr. Borg should go to www.tripadvisor.com and type in 'Palm Court Hotel, Qawra' in the search box. Maybe he will then understand why he has "had a bad summer". Word of mouth spreads very quickly!!!

John Inguanez

Oct 8th 2009, 09:59

The hoteliers always lamenting on high costs and wages. Can any one of them tell me why a dinner in any good restaurant in Malta cost as much as a restaurant in Cannes, France in the midst of a international exhibition? Wages and costs in Cannes for sure are higher than malta, then why the bill in Malta is the same? Can anyone explain, before asking for help from the government.

S Risso

Oct 8th 2009, 09:57

It is called competition and Malta is taking a severe beating! Why? We are being out gunned in all aspects of service and affordability. Don't ask for government to support you - we deffinitely do not need more load on the tax payer, there are more important issues to look after than lining your pockets. It is your business, so manage your business and adapt to the times. Offer cheaper rates, lower the already higher prices than anywhere in Malta for simple necessities such as water and provide an exemplary service--Of course, have your employees learn how to smile and be accomodating. Sell yourself, it is in your best interest. Also review you charging policy - -to what I understand some of you louts are really shooting yourselves in the foot all by yourselves. Example: Person books room for 6 nights - -policy is to pay immediately for 3 nights up front immediately, even before they get here and if the room is shabby they can not get a refund! What kind of thievery is this??? You reap what you sow fellas!!!!! Do not ask for governmental or public sympathy with this type of policy!!

Ray Mangion

Oct 8th 2009, 09:56

It makes more sense to focus on all types of tourists. Malta needs them for our economy to survive. Why can`t High Class Tourism work in harmony with Package Tourism. Malta can offer a good holiday for all; those who wish to come on a History/Heritage tours, have enough to see and visit. Those who want to come for just sun, sand(rocks!!) and sea, Malta has one big coast line. If the government stops making mistakes, Malta will get many more tourists in winter by nurturing and selling the Performing Arts and Nature Tourism. We are so insular. Why can`t we do some serious research? Those who are employed to do so are obviously not doing their job properly. They should know through research that International Opera is a huge tourist attraction and also ramblers and Bird Twitchers fill a decent hole in the Tourist market when it is most needed; Autumn and Winter. As far as hoteliers are concerned, a large number of them have only themselves to blame because the service they provide is appalling. Don`t expect the government to subsidise you if you cannot run a business properly.

M. Debono

Oct 8th 2009, 09:48

@All hotel managers

In my opinion, more money is earned, if you earn few from the many, than many from the few.

From my experience, a weekend break in parts of Europe, is Cheaper than a weekend break in a Maltese hotel, with the same no. of stars!!

Some suggestions:-
1. Cater for the Maltese people, give offers for weekend breaks.
2. Sometimes it is better to fare even, than try to squeeze the last penny out of tourists by exorbitant prices.
3. Try to give the best service to tourists, nowadays tourists are leaving reviews on the internet, and more and more people are reading these reviews.
4. Read these reviews, compensate where the tourist was disappointed for any service, and try to decrease negative feedback by improving your service.

louis zammit

Oct 8th 2009, 09:38

let us not start blaming each other.......but why dont we start having cheaper Hotels with GOOD SERVICE.......i am sure that a hotel with few staff in the winter can give a good holiday to all the tourist..instead of closing all the hotel cloce the bad old scraffy rooms... and am sure all tourist will be happy..CLOSING down is ony making people stay away from ur Hotel..it only means that there is somthing wrong in THAT HOTEL..........

alan cox

Oct 8th 2009, 09:35

Tourism I am afraid is a complex industry. There are many issues involved.The government has and is playing it´s share.As one can see re advertson Sky News and ads in live football games .However more needs to be done.Shoddy cleaning av Sliema front and broken waste paper baskets.etc all over the island dosent help the image. On the other hand I agree with what has been commented by various that hotel managment need to be more active and competitive.Skining the tourist will not bring them back or send good messages abroad. Many more countries have much more to offer than Malta one has to bear this in mind. The filosofy of trying to get reach in a short time is just not on. More value for money should be a key factor to bring and to keep tourists coming. Cleaniness and well manners would also be a great asset .

jane camilleri haber

Oct 8th 2009, 09:28

if these hotels switch to hosting maltese weekenders in the winter they might avoid closing down altogether. we have two clearcut holiday seasons in the winter months; one long weekend in beginning of november, the christmas holidays, the carnival holidays in february, and the easter holidays in march april. if prices are low and feasable all maltese would make an opportunity out of this situation and get away for a few days! the hotels need to have competitive packages and no phony prices. we maltese do a lot of shopping round before parting with our very hard-earned money so no 'get rich quick tactics', yet we are then known to be stable reliable and faithful recurrent people. food for thought

mario gellel

Oct 8th 2009, 09:27

@J.Farrugia
They are not asking the Govt for money, but for him to invest in good roads and pavments, clean beaches,open police stations so they can feel secure, a good system of how and when all the litter can be collected, and an end to construction work during the summer time in prominent tourists areas. If you ask me if any of this is being implemented, I would answer with a simple NO. Just visit Qawra and you will come with my conclusion.

Manuel Micallef

Oct 8th 2009, 09:25

Whilst I do not agree that government shoudl directly subsidies these hotels, I think it is about time we had a good look at our country - is it still attractive? is it still competitive?

Is the infrastructure (roads, upkeep of pavements, street furniture) in good shape?

To me, many parts of the country are neglected - and we cannot expected people to come for a holiday here and stay in shamble places any more.

If you go to Africa, nowadays, you find decently asphalted roads. Go to Kenya - and you will see. But Malta we don't care - and persist in presenting a old style product which is old, in great need to maintenance, to say the least....

r ferriggi

Oct 8th 2009, 09:22

to mr Joseph muscats comment:

very well said.

bugibba is bugibba. it is what it is ( what it was created for!!).

i mean,,,,,,,,for c'S SAKE,,,,,,,just have a look at the roads, the shabbiness, the non planning.

i dont need to explain further.

but to expect bugibba to be 'alive' in winter is asking a bit too much for that type of place ( to be milder than mild).

anyone has any illusions??!!?!?! then wake up.

Joseph Brincat

Oct 8th 2009, 09:04

There is simply one solution.

Forget all about the Government's policy of attracting High Class Tourists, lower your grade and give attrctive packages to workers in the new EU countries.
Obviously do not charge 2 euros to a small bottle of water.

That is why we joined the EU. Hurray!!!

J Farrugia

Oct 8th 2009, 09:03

Instead of asking for government money to see you through the lean months, may I ask what the management of these hotels are doing to attract business in these trying times, when the credit crunch is still doing its rounds throughout the world? Sitting on their laurels? Professional management will never allow themselves to be in such grave and unstable situations. Where are the sales and marketing teams? Sitting pretty and waiting for manna to fall from government coffers is not on. The government is spending millions in publicity as directed by these same hoteliers. Remember that tourism is not the only field that needs money. So does health, education and other sectors. Wasting money for shoddy services is not on. And these three star hotels in my opinion are just a waste unless they improve their services. If because of circumstances these cannot improve their product, then they should consider changing business. The times of the dilettanti has long gone. and will never be here again, just to make a lira. And the foreign environmentalists are not helping us, neither. They are ruining all our and government's efforts in attracting business to Malta. Show them the doors.