Travel agents call for inquiry into ‘malicious' leak of information

The Federated Association of Travel and Tourism Agents (FATTA) today expressed its full confidence in the Malta Tourism Authority CEO, Josef Formosa Gauci, and "unreservedly condemns malicious reports in a section of the media aimed at smearing his integrity."

A leak to the General Workers' Union daily newspaper sparked a series of recriminations and revealed an internal conflict between the tourism ministry and the MTA. MaltaToday is informed that tourism minister Karmenu Vella is set for a head-on collision with former MP, now chairman of the MTA, Gavin Gulia, over a series of concerted attacks in the press on MTA chief executive Josef Formosa Gauci.

FATTA called upon the MTA to clarify that the CEO's remuneration package is in line with the negotiated contract, which unanimously approved by the board and that there has been no abuse as insinuated in the report.

The association also called on the MTA to hold an inquiry to "identify the source of this malicious and unprofessional leak and to take the necessary action to prevent future leaks of distorted confidential information which can only serve to harm the tourism industry."

Formosa Gauci was appointed by the former administration and retained by Labour, enjoying both the trust of the industry as well as that of Karmenu Vella, who before his appointment as a minister was a chairman for the Orange travel group.

But a story appearing in l-Orizzont forced Vella to take Formosa Gauci's side: according to the GWU daily, Formosa Gauci pocketed a total of €23,000 in allowances since 2008, on top of his €66,000 salary, for not availing himself of a chauffeur-driven car provided by the State. The newspaper claimed Formosa Gauci was not driving his personal car but still using a government vehicle.

Vella defended Formosa Gauci publicly, saying the CEO was using a car belonging to the MTA's car pool which is even shared with the minister himself, and said that Formosa Gauci had not abused of state allowances.

However, FATTA pointed out that Formosa Gauci was appointed as CEO in 2008 by the MTA Board as provided and not directly by the previous government as alleged in the reports.

FATTA also highlighted that the MTA Board is strongly representative of the private sector stakeholders with seven of the Board members being regularly nominated on the direct recommendations of MHRA, FATTA, Air Malta, Malta International Airport, Gozo Tourism Association and other prominent industry associations.

"Formosa Gauci's appointment as CEO in 2008 for a three year term, and his related contract, were unanimously approved by the Board at the time as was his three year extension in 2011, confirming the strong support of the private sector.   The results achieved by the industry since 2008 speak for themselves with a consistent trend of consecutive record breaking years which vindicates the stakeholders' backing," the association said.