Tourism Minister launches foundation for tourism zone development

Minister for Tourism Edward Zammit Lewis announced the beginning of a foundation for tourism zone development earlier today.

“This project, which started last year, provides a focus on tourism as a product. The foundation will be tasked with focusing on touristic areas on three  sections of the island, the north, south and central areas, and coordinating its work with various ministries in order to create a better touristic experience for those visiting the island,” Zammit Lewis explained.

Zammit Lewis made reference to recently published figures by NSO which show that in January 2015, tourism arrivals were up by 6% compared to the same period last year.

“At the moment, the numbers are clearly on the rise, but the challenge now is how to manage these rising numbers. We want these numbers to keep on rising, but we need to be organized and co-ordinated in our work, to ensure a better product.”

Zammit Lewis explained that the foundation would be working to incentivise travel particularly in certain periods of the year, and in certain areas of the island.

“For the first time, we have a fund especially for touristic areas,” he explained. “The funds will aim to keep these areas well maintained and well organized, and they will also offer special help to localities such as St. Pauls Bay, where the challenge and benefits of tourism are so clearly felt.”

The non-executive chairman of the foundation Joseph Cassar, also explained that the tourism ministry had collaborated with the other entities in February last year in order to create a Committee to concentrate on the issues that touristic areas around the island face.

“The committee focused on road maintenance and an accelerated program of cleaning and rubbish collection in these said areas, and we also took stock of the situation and collected various proposals from the areas,” Cassar said.

Cassar pointed out that the proposals targeted areas like the Marsascala promenade and the Bugibba square among many others.

“The committee has so far acted as a consultative entity, but it haf no executive power, and this is what the Foundation aims to change,” Cassar said.

Cassar explained that the new foundation aimed to have executive powers and to make decisions as an autonomous entity within the tourism ministry.

“The foundation will help the government reach its objectives and remove the pressure that tourism puts on these touristic areas.”

Earlier on during the day, parliamentary secretary for local government, Stefan Buontempo and Zammit Lewis were also present for the inauguration of a new tourist information centre on the Bugibba promenade.

St. Paul’s Bay Mayor Raymond Tabone said that the new tourist information office would be beneficial to residents and tourists alike.

Buontempo praised the local council for its efforts in helping the society of the area.

“This is a local council that is truly close to its people and truly dedicated to fulfilling the needs of its people,” Buontempo said.

Buontempo also praised the local council for its efforts in creating an open air gym, which will open in the coming days, and its work in engaging in the general beautification of the area, including road maintenance and addressing the issue of parking that was one of the main issues of concern in the area.

Zammit Lewis said that although this initiative was very simple in essence, it was a very needed step in the community.

“St. Paul’s Bay faces a unique challenge in a sense, as it is a community that needs to cater both for tourists who populate the area particularly in the summer months, but even for residents of the area,” Zammit Lewis said praising the local council’s work particularly given the specific challenges of the area.

Zammit Lewis also said that the ministry of tourism was currently investing in a new digital platform to inform tourists about the locality using digital means. He added that the tenders for this research had already been issued, and that this was being done in the hope to aid local councils like St. Paul’s Bay that have such a unique challenge.

“We are confident that we will be able to meet the necessary targets to keep Air Malta functional and commercially viable”- Minister Edward Zammit Lewis

Asked about Air Malta, Zammit Lewis said that although the situation is challenging, the company was determined to reach the targets it had placed itself.

“There are great challenges to reach the objectives of the restructuring process that the previous administration had agreed to with the European Commission, in order to obtain a subsidy for the company,” Zammit Lewis explained.

Zammit Lewis said that another challenge the company is facing is that of actually becoming commercially viable, however, the ministry was confident that these targets and objectives would be met after the necessary collaboration.