Tourism minister now responsible for Air Malta, aviation and tourism college

Air Malta, the aviation industry and the Institute for Tourism Studies are now the responsibility of the ministry for tourism, Karmenu Vella announced today.

The three areas, respectively falling under the finance, transport and education ministries have now been centralised within the tourism portfolio.

Visiting the Lufthansa Technik Park in Hal Farrug, Vella also revealed government's intentions of developing a national aviation policy and the upgrade of the civil aviation department, to an authority.

"The future in tourism and its attraction lies in accessibility, increasing seat numbers and products. The Malta Tourism Authority and a marketing strategy remain an essential part, but special attention must be given to aviation," Vella said.

The minister said aviation not only was good for tourism sector but, in Malta, had grown in a market for aircraft maintenance and support services, including ground handling and services given to private planes.

Another sector opening up in aviation were the aviation schools, with a number of schools having already opened.

The minister also announced that another change in the pipeline was for the Safi Aviation Park, currently falling under the remit of the Malta Industrial Parks, to fall under the aviation section within his ministry.