Speaking during the opening ceremony of the AEGEE Summer University at St James’ Cavalier Centre for Creativity in Valletta, Dr Zammit Dimech said that we are living in a global village and this should induce each and every one of us to be more outward looking.

“As a country we live on the periphery of Europe. This should induce our younger generation to search for further pastures and to look out to Europe for opportunities that so far they did not have,” he said. The minister said that Malta’s young people were the protagonists in our long track towards membership of the European Union. He said that it was through their enthusiasm that we managed to join the 24 other member states of the EU. He said that it is through their enthusiasm that we will make a success story of our membership.

“Our younger generation has a role to play in the conservation of our historic, artistic and cultural heritage and in promoting Malta as a tourist experience,” he added. Malta boasts of a history of 7,000 years with prehistoric temples older than the pyramids of Egypt and Stonehenge of Great Britain. He said that we have a multitude of prehistoric sites scattered all over the islands, we have six walled cities, magnificent palaces, churches, fortifications and old historic buildings.

All these heritage sites have to be conserved, restored and rehabilitated. This should constitute one of our major aims as we can no longer attract tourists merely for our sun, sand and sea. He said that Malta should no longer be considered as a destination but as an experience. The Minister for Tourism and Culture said that over 200,000 tourists visit Malta for its heritage.

He said that our aim should be to increase this number and to promote other niche markets together with those for the learning of the English language, underwater diving and Conferences and Incentives. Dr Zammit Dimech said that the University of Malta, the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology and the Institute for Tourism Studies cater for the teaching of the arts and tourism related subjects.

He said that students also have the chance of furthering their studies in EU states under the auspices of EU programmes such as Socrates and Erasmus and through bilateral projects. Youth organisations are also the catalysts of foreign visitors through educational and cultural activities. He said that the construction of sport facilities during the past 15 years is also contributing to the exchange of youth programmes, adding that over 50,000 youths visit Malta every year to learn English.