Malta Plans To Boost Tourist Numbers

The Malta holiday industry has received the latestfrom that of an increase in tourist numbers.
target set by the island's tourism authority withWith official figures showing worrying signs that
more than a little sceptism after anthe number of tourists for 2006 visiting Malta
announcement that a target of a million and halfcould be similar, or perhaps even down from
visitors a year to the island could be achieved in2005, 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 sethave 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 stagnationThe 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 ispassengers it carried in the year from March 2005
to include promoting the neighbouring and quieterto March 2006.
island of Gozo as a holiday destination and toThe 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 independentcost airlines will start operating from the UK and
Malta's travel guide say that there is nothing newperhaps other parts of Europe in the near future
or innovative in the tourist authority's plans thatto 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 usin lost revenue will be lost this year because of
sometimes resembles a planning office in the olddelays 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 futurecompete with new destinations in Europe as well
needs, but failing miserably to deliver anything likeas 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 thereasonable levels anymore, although this will be
public sector that is more likely to increase touristwelcome, but the trick of sustained tourism is to
numbers to Malta, as they have a direct interesthave repeat business, and unless Malta attracts
in seeing their plans work, while the touristnew first time visitors then repeat business is an
authority bureaucrats will still be drawing theirimpossibility'.
salaries and annual leave whether or not theHolidays in Malta and the related tourist sector are
targets they set are met.'a major source of employment in Malta, and with
Malta Holidaysunemployment running at over 8 per cent any fall
One example the travel guide gives for poorin tourists could spell long term damage to the
Malta tourist figures is the delay in the introductionisland's economy.
of low cost airlines to Malta and the possibility