Julian Zarb has been awarded a fellowship by the Executive Committee of the Tourism Society (UK). The Tourism Society is an organisation for people working in tourism and travel, including educators and students, and other people interested or involved in the visitor economy across all its sectors worldwide.

Founded in 1977, the society provides a forum for the professional needs of those pursuing a career in the tourism industry.

Mr Zarb has been involved in the tourism industry for the past 36 years, starting with the first 25 years in the hospitality sector – working in both front of house as well as the food and beverage departments of hotels and restaurants in the UK and Malta. In 2003 he moved into the public sector.

He has been involved with a number of NGOs, including the Hotel and Catering Institutional Management Association Malta Group, where he occupied the posts of chair, vice chair, PR officer and editor; as vice chair and secretary of the Malta Cookery and Food Association; as founder president of the Malta Tourism Society; and as vice president of the European Union of Tourism Officers.

He was also a freelance tourism journalist and media presenter and producer, was awarded the Tourism Journalist Award by the Ministry for Tourism in 2000 and 2003, is a resident visiting lecturer at the Institute of Travel, Tourism and Culture at the University of Malta in international tourism development, sustainable tourism and Malta’s tourism development.

He is currently undertaking a doctoral study related to the process and implementation of local tourism planning in Malta.