| The Malta holiday industry has received the latest | | | | from that of an increase in tourist numbers. |
| target set by the island's tourism authority with | | | | With official figures showing worrying signs that |
| more than a little sceptism after an | | | | the number of tourists for 2006 visiting Malta |
| announcement that a target of a million and half | | | | could be similar, or perhaps even down from |
| visitors a year to the island could be achieved in | | | | 2005, the opportunity for the island to have low |
| three years time. | | | | cost flights operating from the UK appears to |
| The Malta Tourist Authority has consistently set | | | | have slipped by for the all important summer |
| targets in the past that have failed to be met, | | | | season. |
| and early signs for this year indicate a stagnation | | | | The island's official airline, Air Malta, reported a |
| if not a dip in tourists visiting Malta. | | | | drop of over two per cent in the number of |
| Part of a new plan to increase tourism in Malta is | | | | passengers it carried in the year from March 2005 |
| to include promoting the neighbouring and quieter | | | | to March 2006. |
| island of Gozo as a holiday destination and to | | | | The hope among hoteliers and others involved in |
| increase accessibility to Malta. | | | | Malta's tourist trade is that at least one of the low |
| Commenting on the new targets, one independent | | | | cost airlines will start operating from the UK and |
| Malta's travel guide say that there is nothing new | | | | perhaps other parts of Europe in the near future |
| or innovative in the tourist authority's plans that | | | | to boost visitor numbers. |
| would make an increase in tourism likely to | | | | 'With the holiday market vital to the Malta |
| happen in itself. | | | | economy,' comment the guide, 'potentially millions |
| 'Unfortunately the Malta Tourist Authority to us | | | | in lost revenue will be lost this year because of |
| sometimes resembles a planning office in the old | | | | delays in agreeing to allow the low cost airlines to |
| Soviet bureauracy. Good at producing statistics, | | | | fly into Malta. In today's world Malta has to |
| excellent at identify problems and what the future | | | | compete with new destinations in Europe as well |
| needs, but failing miserably to deliver anything like | | | | as Spain and her islands. Cheap Malta flights aren't |
| the targets they set. | | | | in themselves enough to sustain tourism at |
| We feel that it is the private rather than the | | | | reasonable levels anymore, although this will be |
| public sector that is more likely to increase tourist | | | | welcome, but the trick of sustained tourism is to |
| numbers to Malta, as they have a direct interest | | | | have repeat business, and unless Malta attracts |
| in seeing their plans work, while the tourist | | | | new first time visitors then repeat business is an |
| authority bureaucrats will still be drawing their | | | | impossibility'. |
| salaries and annual leave whether or not the | | | | Holidays in Malta and the related tourist sector are |
| targets they set are met.' | | | | a major source of employment in Malta, and with |
| Malta Holidays | | | | unemployment running at over 8 per cent any fall |
| One example the travel guide gives for poor | | | | in tourists could spell long term damage to the |
| Malta tourist figures is the delay in the introduction | | | | island's economy. |
| of low cost airlines to Malta and the possibility | | | | |