Nationalist MP Robert Arrigo noted that only 45 words from the budget speech were allocated for the largest industry in Malta. An additional 90 words were about Air Malta.
Mr Arrigo is delivering his address during this morning’s parliamentary session in which the financial estimates for the ministry of tourism have started being discussed.
The Government is to set up a foundation that promotes and encourages foreign conventions and congresses to be held in Malta, however Mr Arrigo questioned whether it this aims at increasing government’s control. “We need to ensure that the private sector is not negatively impacted in the process,” he said.
The budget policy document failed to mention the government’s plan to make Malta more attractive, as well as clean, he said.
He questioned whether parking metres will be installed, and if so, how they will operate.
The government has created high hopes regarding cruise liners berthing in Gozo, however failed to reveal actual figures, Mr Arrigo argued. “ Not enough has been said about investing in Gozo,” he said.
Nationalist MP Kristy Debono reiterated that the Prime Minister allocated little time for tourism. In the policy document, this category had six headings - Air Malta, Public Private Partnerships, Comino Bay, Cruise Liner incentives to stay overnight, Revision of VAT and Convention of Malta.
She noted that most tourists in Malta originate from the United Kingdom and Italy. This year, a decrease was registered in the number of tourists originating from Germany, Spain and Russia. More specificially, a decrease of 5,000 tourists from Germany and 11,000 from Spain.
The government has failed to provide any increase for the Malta Tourism Authority. One questions the government’s plan to attract new markets, she said.
Mrs Debono noted the incentive to allow cruise liners to stay overnight was drafted during Nationalist Administration, and gaming legislation was amended accordingly. She said, that given most work was finished two years ago, the government failed to give details in last week’s budget speech.
Making reference to Conventions Malta, Kristy Debono said that there is already a long list of entities doing the same work and questioned whether this is merely a move to employ more people close to the Labour Party.
Robert Cutajar noted that only sailing was mentioned when the budget document refers to Sports Tourism. He said that the sailing sector has been negatively impacted because of the no-zone area set for the new power station in Birzebbuga. In addition, the Vikings team have not been allocated a place to train. “We are inviting tourists to visit Malta for such sport, and yet not sustaining the sport activity locally,” he argued.
About Air Malta, Nationalist MP Tonio Fenech defended the appointment of former CEO Mr Peter Davis, saying the Nationalist Administration had no option then to head hunt foreigners, following search for locals. He said that Mr Davis kept the same salary he had where he previously worked. The others , who were considered for the role, asked for a raise in salary. He argued that the airline’s restructuring was already on track during the previous administration.