87 tourism projects to generate 250 jobs

A total of 250 jobs are expected to be generated in the tourism industry with the creation of 87 projects which had benefitted from the Enterprise Grant Scheme.

The scheme, which opened in 2009, had to award €10 million as monetary assistance to private companies which came up with an innovative tourism related projects. Enterprises were being given up to 50 per cent of the total cost of their project.

A total of €7 million have been allocated for 87 projects to date in two separate calls.

A third call has been made and it closed in January and the projects submitted for consideration cost a total of around €20 million. The remaining €3 million will be allocated to these projects.

Tourism Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco said this afternoon that tourism was based on product concept, the country’s accessibility and advertising.

During a visit to Malta Segway Tours, one of the beneficiaries, Dr de Marco said that 17 new routes to and from Malta had been introduced last year and advertising was now being focused on social media and online rather than on newspapers.

Sustainable tourism, he said, would benefit the future and was based on economic, environmental and social aspects.