The Malta Tourism Authority has decided to lay more stress on the product and enforcement as it braces itself to tougher times fully aware that the international situation can affect Malta too and that the UK market, which accounts for 40 per cent of travel to the island, is experiencing economic problems.
"Maybe" the product was not given enough attention, Josef Formosa Gauci, the MTA's chief executive officer told The Times Business in an interview. "We intend to focus on getting it right and when we say product we mean it in the complete sense," he insisted.
The tourism regulator is also working on strengthening its enforcement unit. Mr Formosa Gauci is aware that the MTA is severely critcised for not be strong enough when it comes to enforcement.
"I believe that every MTA-licensed premises should be visited at least once a year. Across the board, I do not think that is the case."
In the case of enforcement that does not fall directly under the MTA's responsibility, Mr Formosa Gauci explained that the aim is to establish better liaisons with the departments in question.
Mr Formosa Gauci adopts a down-to-earth approach when looking ahead, certainly refusing to sit on the country laurels in terms of tourist figures.
"The picture for the remainder of the year is that Malta, like the rest of the world, is going to face the problems caused by the rising price of oil, which, in the industry, means aviation fuel.
"Malta is on the edge of the European flying zone, which means most of its core markets are beyond two-hour long flights, over which it becomes highly expensive to fly.
"And we cannot forget that the UK, which accounts for 40 per cent of travel to Malta, is experiencing economic problems."
A plan of action exists: An attempt to ensure that seat capacity reductions next winter are kept to a minimum. The MTA is expecting certain airlines would probably cut the number of flights to Malta, indeed Ryanair will be dropping daily flights from Luton to five times a week.
The MTA is also boosting its marketing strategy to increase the seat load factor of those airlines that continue to fly. "We won't have as many planes but we will try and increase the number of passengers on operating flights," Mr Formosa Gauci explained.
"Maybe" the product was not given enough attention, Josef Formosa Gauci, the MTA's chief executive officer told The Times Business in an interview. "We intend to focus on getting it right and when we say product we mean it in the complete sense," he insisted.
The tourism regulator is also working on strengthening its enforcement unit. Mr Formosa Gauci is aware that the MTA is severely critcised for not be strong enough when it comes to enforcement.
"I believe that every MTA-licensed premises should be visited at least once a year. Across the board, I do not think that is the case."
In the case of enforcement that does not fall directly under the MTA's responsibility, Mr Formosa Gauci explained that the aim is to establish better liaisons with the departments in question.
Mr Formosa Gauci adopts a down-to-earth approach when looking ahead, certainly refusing to sit on the country laurels in terms of tourist figures.
"The picture for the remainder of the year is that Malta, like the rest of the world, is going to face the problems caused by the rising price of oil, which, in the industry, means aviation fuel.
"Malta is on the edge of the European flying zone, which means most of its core markets are beyond two-hour long flights, over which it becomes highly expensive to fly.
"And we cannot forget that the UK, which accounts for 40 per cent of travel to Malta, is experiencing economic problems."
A plan of action exists: An attempt to ensure that seat capacity reductions next winter are kept to a minimum. The MTA is expecting certain airlines would probably cut the number of flights to Malta, indeed Ryanair will be dropping daily flights from Luton to five times a week.
The MTA is also boosting its marketing strategy to increase the seat load factor of those airlines that continue to fly. "We won't have as many planes but we will try and increase the number of passengers on operating flights," Mr Formosa Gauci explained.