With growth rates of 12 and 20 per cent in tourism performance and expenditure, respectively in the first eight months, Malta was performing much better than its close competitors confirming that the country was on the right track, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said this morning.

Speaking during a seminar “Regional Development for Sustainable Tourism”, organised by the Malta Business Bureau and the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, the Prime Minister warned that Malta, however could not be complacent in the face of positive results.

“All operators and stakeholders in the sector must continue to combine their efforts and work within a consolidated and holistic framework towards the sustainability of the tourism sector.”

He said that improving competitiveness was a key enabler of sustainability.

“Expanding the tourist base coming to Malta by developing niche segments is a priority in our strategy.

“Thematic tourism has the potential of reducing the seasonal patterns thus reducing the strain during the peak tourism period.

“It is with this reasoning that government launched a number of initiatives to encourage sports tourism and to initiate agro-tourism.”

The Prime Minister said that local communities were a key element in tourism strategies and their role was fundamental in ensuring that the tourism industry was growing in a diverse and sustainable manner.

“Successes are already being achieved in this area,” he said adding that the government has launched a number of schemes for local councils to enhance their localities and to make them tourist attractions through restoration works, cultural activities and investment in the rural environment.

A sense of innovation also had to be instilled in the tourism industry, with industry players re-inventing themselves to cater for changing needs and desires.

To facilitate this, the government launched a €10 million investment scheme to assist companies in undertaking projects in the tourism sector.

Dr Gonzi said that any tourism strategy had to address the professional skill base of the industry and the government was also investing heavily in this sector.

He said that all the reforms and strategies being undertaken had to be seen as part of a wider and holistic project which together would contribute to the sustainable development and growth of Malta’s tourism industry.