Along with various factors that contributed to the economy, Maltese and Gozitan workers are the best way forward to make Malta’s tourism product one of the best in the region, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said yesterday.

Dr Gonzi, who was accompanied by parliamentary secretary for tourism Mario de Marco and PN Workers Solidarity Movement president Anthony Abela, was speaking during an official visit to the Maritim Antonin Hotel as part of the PN celebrations for 1 May.

He spoke about the role of low-cost airlines and the crucial service provided by Air Malta to help boost tourism which in turn creates more employment.

The Prime Minister said he was satisfied with the generous offers put forward by the government to stimulate this sector which in turn lead to the highest occupancy rates registered by the Maritim Antonin Hotel in winter. Similarly, he added, many other hotels said they had high occupancy rates throughout the year.

Hotel owner Adrian Buttigieg said that in 2007, the hotel’s occupancy rate had reached 85 per cent – the highest occupancy rate registered in all the Maritim hotels around the world.