Updated | Paul Bugeja confirmed as MTA CEO

The MTA announced Mr Paul Bugeja’s appointment after the Board unanimously approved his appointment today.
 
Minister for Tourism Edward Zammit Lewis said that Bugeja had been active within the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association for a number of years, including a period as its President, and had served as a member of the MTA's board of directors.

In comments to MaltaToday, Zammit Lewis said he wanted the CEO to be a person accepted by the industry.

"Being a small country, there is always a limited pool of experts from whom to choose. I wanted someone who is accepted by the industry, but who is non-political... None better than the president of the biggest non-governmental organisation of the sector," Zammit Lewis said.

He added the Bugeja was a person of integrity and highly competent for the job "who will not allow his past profession to interfere with his new role or influence his decisions".

An MTA board meeting held this afternoon confirmed the new CEO appointment.

Bugeja will be replacing outgoing CEO Josef Formosa Gauci, who resigned after six years at the helm of the tourism authority, on 16 September.

Bugeja thanked the board and outgoing CEO Formosa Gauci, as well as the minister. He also thanked the MHRA council members and other entities within the tourism sector he worked with over the years.

Zammit Lewis stated that Bugeja was best suited to lead the MTA thanks to his years of experience within the sector. He also said Bugeja has the competence, integrity and energy to give a new lease of life to the MTA for the benefit of the industry and the country.

MaltaToday is informed that Zammit Lewis approached Bugeja - who already sits on the MTA board - to fill in the void left by the outgoing CEO.

Apart from heading the industry’s top lobby, Bugeja currently serves as the Corinthia group’s Chief Financial Officer. He will be resigning this post.

Together with Formosa Gauci, the Tourism Minister is discussing what role the outgoing CEO could play. 

GRTU welcomes Bugeja’s appointment

The GRTU welcomed Bugeja’s appointment, saying that he brought with  a wealth of experience in the tourism industry following decades of work in this field in the private sector, which will be hugely beneficial to the various tourism related sections that the GRTU represents.

“The GRTU augurs him every success in his new role and is confident that the relations between GRTU and MTA will continue to thrive in a positive direction. Bugeja has moreover proven himself recently whilst briefly holding the post of President of the MHRA,” it said.

The GRTU also thanked Josef Formosa Gauci for his dedication and contribution towards the tourism industry during his tenure as CEO of MTA.  

MHRA welcomes appointment of its outgoing president

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) welcomed Bugeja’s appointment.

In a statement, MHRA said that MTA is an extremely important public agency and its leadership and operations
are important not only for the tourism sector but significantly for the economy as a
whole.

“Paul Bugeja has all the requisites to successfully lead the MTA and has the right vision, energy and competence to drive change to ensure that the tourism sector grows in a sustainable manner,” MHRA vice President Tony Zahra said.

MHRA is currently lobbying Government to adopt a strategy that puts into action a Government holistic approach by applying a tourism lens to policy and programme development and also focusing future tourism investments on priority areas.

By setting such a comprehensive direction Government will enhance its role as an effective partner with the industry and other levels of government in support of an internationally competitive tourism sector.

Zahra asserts that “to achieve this goal is no easy feat and requires a team player at the helm of the MTA to spearhead all stakeholders in the same direction. Bugeja is indeed the right person for this post.”

MHRA thanked the outgoing CEO Josef Formosa Gauci for his work and contribution given over the last six years. Like Bugeja, Formosa Gauci occupied the position of MHRA President prior to his appointment as MTA CEO.

MHRA reiterated that it will continue to constructively support the MTA to create the right environment for the tourism sector to prosper.