Tourism chief Josef Formosa Gauci has received “unanimous” backing from the Malta Tourism Authority board.

At an urgently-convened meeting yesterday, the board discussed the allegations that appeared in l-Orizzont that Mr Formosa Gauci had pocketed €23,000 in allowances for not using a chauffeur-driven car but still used a car provided by the State instead of his own.

In a brief statement, the board said it “unanimously” expressed “full trust” in Mr Formosa Gauci’s competence and integrity.

It found nothing to censure in his conduct and declared that what was reported in the press was “evidently the result of wrong information”.

The statement did not elaborate on what the board deemed to be wrong information.

It unanimously expressed full trust in Mr Formosa Gauci’s competence and integrity

In the wake of the newspaper allegations, Tourism Minister Karmenu Vella had come out in defence of the chief executive who has held the post since 2008 after his three-year contract was renewed in 2011.

The MTA board is composed of members coming from the private sector, including the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association and major players like Air Malta and Malta International Airport.

The CEO is appointed by the MTA board and not directly by the government, and members had called the urgent meeting to clear the air.

The Federated Association of Travel and Tourism Agents, Fatta, independently expressed its full confidence in Mr Formosa Gauci and condemned what it described as “malicious reports” aimed at smearing his integrity.

The CEO also had the backing of the Malta Association of Hospitality Executives that said “unsubstantiated stories” on key personnel in the industry could only give rise to uncertainty.

When contacted, MTA chairman Gavin Gulia said he had nothing to add to the statement issued by the board.

“We stand by that statement,” he replied.