The government today launched a five-year tourism policy that forms parts of a wider 15-year vision.

The plan aims to tackle everything from infrastructural issues to Malta’s air and sea connectivity.

Speaking at a press conference, Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis said the plan requires a collective government effort due to its holistic nature.

Dr Zammit Lewis said 2014 was a very good year for tourism, but warned that there is no carry forward in the tourism industry therefore the country cannot rest on its laurels.

He said the tourism industry were active participants in formulating the new tourism policy.

The Malta Tourism Authority identified the need to improve Malta’s infrastructure in order to offer a better overall product to tourists.

“Studies show that the main areas of weakness which emerge from tourist responses tend to concentrate on issues related to roads, pavements and associated aspects. Roads and traffic, parking and road signs tend to be of concern to tourists visiting the islands. So do public conveniences and the general level of cleanliness.

“When evaluating all of the above, attention should be drawn to the fact that Malta constantly strives to attract increasing volumes of tourists from advanced, affluent countries, where the deficiencies which diminish the Malta experience, are something which has long been relegated to the past.

“One a more positive note, aspects which include air and sea water quality receives generally positive rankings by tourists to the Malta Islands,” the MTA said in the policy document.

The government expressed its commitment to go ahead with plans to further improve the road network and its ancillary facilities, also through complimentary developments in fields such as a more efficient public transport system.

National carrier ‘the most important airline’ for Malta

The government recognised that Air Malta continues to be “Malta most important airline both in strategic and in volume terms.”

“Air Malta’s relevance if further compounded by the fact that it continues to service an extensive schedule of routes, albeit in a reduced manner, during the off-peak months.

 

“This is at a time when a number of competing airlines are increasingly focusing on operating during more lucrative peak periods when demand is strong and yield is high.”