News that Viset, operators of the Valletta Waterfront and of the Valletta Cruise Terminal, have posted record figures this year and that Malta has been given the Destination of the Year 2008 award by Seatrade Insider Cruise Awards, comes as a refreshing breeze in the wake of so much gloom that has characterised the business environment. Grand Harbour, utterly neglected for so many years after it ceased playing a vital role in Malta's economy, is indeed gradually coming back to life.
The redevelopment of the waterfront is part of the changing face of Grand Harbour. The waterfront and the terminal have given Malta a good name, but, unfortunately, other vitally important improvements await to be carried out so as to offer a complete package, attractive in its totality, not in parts as is the case at present.
Most of the tourists arriving on cruise liners, or who start their cruise from Grand Harbour, are invariably taken, or go on their own, to Valletta. Imagine their reaction when they see so much neglect in so many parts of the city. Garish shop signs compete for attention with equally unattractive shop fronts and fine architectural gems are not cared for with the kind of attention to detail visitors might be accustomed to seeing in their countries. New paving has improved the environment, particularly around the co-cathedral and The Palace; other improvements have been made in recent years but, all in all, much has yet to be done to restore Valletta to the pristine glory of its past.
At long last, plans will soon be in hand to redevelop the site of the former opera house and City Gate, a monument to mediocrity. The Times has often complained about the unacceptable state of the City Gate environs but its pleas, and those of the public, have always fallen on deaf ears. It is as if no one from the tourism authority ever cared to pass through the gate. Even now that the government has finally decided to rebuild the site, the area could, with little expense, be made a bit decent. The people's pride in the city is not matched by the care it should be given all the time. Yes, improvements have been made, but the process is excruciatingly slow.
Even so, it is indeed good news to learn that the budget for the tourism authority has increased and that bookings for Mediterranean cruises for next year have matched this year's. It would seem that, at least up to now, this is one business line that could weather the storm caused by the financial crunch and the recession, although it remains to be seen if the results will match the forecasts. Meanwhile, the government is planning to step up marketing and destination promotion efforts in Germany, France and Italy and in new markets, such as Dubai and Russia. Over the next three years, the government is planning to allocate €120 million for tourism-related structural projects.
Over half a million cruise passengers would have visited Malta this year, 12 per cent more than last year. Viset, the Malta Tourism Authority and Malta International Airport now plan to set up a €400,000 fund to promote Malta as a cruise and stay destination. Viset will spend €2 million on improvements to quays to take larger cruise liners. All this indicates that all the operators involved in the industry are alive to the industry's potential for further growth. Well done indeed.