Mediterranean Film Studios submitted a development application to Mepa in 2010 to turn its Rinella tanks into a fish farm, Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis revealed yesterday.
This was how limited the former government’s vision for the film industry was, he said during the debate in second reading of the Budgetary Measures Implementation Bill in Parliament.
The studio opened in 1964 and was operated as a parastatal company until 1995, when it was acquired from the government by Catalyst Entertainment Inc and the Britt Allcroft Company plc, which leased the studio on an emphyteusis for 65 years.
In 1999, entrepreneur Jost Merten bought the majority of shares with a commitment to making MFS the world’s leading marine facility and a full-service studio. Instead, he submitted an application to change the use of the tanks to fish farms. The studios, Dr Zammit Lewis added, were in a terrible state.
He said he was currently looking into the legal process regarding the studios. Last July, the Court of Appeal ordered Mediterranean Film Studios Limited to vacate the premises after failing to pay rent and owing over €5 million to creditors. The legal action had been started by the government in 2005.
Dr Zammit Lewis said the government was now working towards making the film industry a year-round operation to attract guaranteed investment. In the near future he would be announcing a number of films planned for Malta.
The government is now working towards making the film industry a year-round operation to attract investment
On the tourism sector, Dr Zammit Lewis said the efforts by both the government and the private sector were giving results.
He criticised Shadow Minister Claudio Grech for suggesting that the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association should be given an executive role in decision making, adding that from the very start of the legislature, the government had made MHRA a partner in all decisions taken related to the tourism sector. He invited Mr Grech to explain precisely what he meant by an executive role.
There were various plans in the pipeline to boost the sector, such as taking part in the Conventions Fair in Frankfurt next May.
The cruise liner industry had seen a 20 per cent increase on 2014’s success, while tourism in Gozo had risen five per cent.
Between 2004 and 2007, five hotels in Gozo had closed their doors for good. The Labour government had approved a new hotel in Marsalforn and, for the first time in Gozo, a number of boutique hotels.
When it came to the aviation sector, within two years the government had made Malta Air Traffic Services (MATS) a success story, Dr Zammit Lewis said.
Today it no longer required an allocation from the Finance Ministry but rather was self-sufficient and made a profit. In a few weeks’ time it would be opening a new radar in Fawwara.
Malta aimed to be among the first to regulate drones, with the government viewing the sector as offering huge opportunities.
Some €370,000 had been allocated to the National Aerospace Centre through the Temara EU project to start a training programme in aviation as a better trained workforce was needed in the sector.
Many airlines, such as Swissair and Finnair, were returning to Malta, and others such as Jet2.com and Turkish Airlines were increasing the number of routes they operated to and from Malta.
Dr Zammit Lewis described Air Malta a major challenge, pointing out that while the restructuring plan was spread over five years, the previous management team had been recruited on a three-year contract.
When their stint ended, they vanished instead of continuing the restructuring process.
The Labour government had strengthened the airline’s management and had started working at the restructuring goals, which he was confident would be reached, Dr Zammit Lewis said.