The Institute for Tourism Studies is to temporarily move to the former Air Malta head offices in Luqa while a new campus is built in SmartCity, Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi said this afternoon.

The ITS site in St George's Bay is being handed over to the db Group for major hotel, retail and residential development. 

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The ITS is expected to occupy the old Air Malta offices for five years.

The cost of the move will be paid by the db group. 

The minister said the move will take place over the summer with students expected to start the next scholastic year at the Luqa building.

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Asked whether this signalled any developments in the issuing of permits to the db group, Dr Mizzi insisted that the ITS move is completely separate from the db group project. He also pointed out that the covering of the costs came with no strings attached as no conditions were made. The total cost of the temporary relocation was still being calculated.

The minister said the Air Malta building will take up 900 students, while the present campus takes 700 students.

The move, he went on, is part of plans to increase intake of students, especially foreign students.

Staff were informed of the decision today with students expected to be briefed soon. 

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