Speaking in parliament yesterday, Dr Zammit Dimech said summer was around the corner and the MTA needed to work hard to ensure that adequate numbers of tourists visit Malta. “If anyone has the impression that it is just a job, they are wrong, these employees are working for the whole country,” he said. Dr Zammit Dimech said tourism was the linchpin of Maltese economy and everything else depended on its success. “MTA employees need to work hard and if they don’t have this mentality, they should not be in the job,” he said.

He also said that this year could finally see the turnaround of bad tourism figures since the 11 September attack in New York. “Tourism is coming out of the worst period it has ever experienced,” he said. He said that results in 2001 showed figures to be down by three per cent, a further 3.9 per cent in 2002. “But 2003 was better with a controlled drop of 0.6 per cent,” he said.

Meanwhile Opposition MP Joe Cuschieri said he at least expected a statement from Dr Zammit Dimech about the Air Malta crisis. “Tourism depends on Air Malta and I expected the minister to at least make a statement on the issue,” he said.

He also said that he had hoped this Tourism Minister was not like his predecessor. “But from what I have seen after a year, there is not much to suggest that he is not the same as the person who occupied the post before him.” He also wished new MTA chairman success in his appointment and that he hoped he would work hard to stimulate tourism.