The party’s activities began yesterday with a seminar during which various presentations on the subject were given by local and foreign experts. The working party was convened for the first time last year to prepare a report on Oporto in Portugal. The IFHP’s aim is to serve as a communication platform for the exchange of ideas among the experts affiliated to it in a way that will benefit both the country on which the report is being prepared and the experts themselves. The members currently in Malta come from a host of countries from all over the world, including representatives from Saudi Arabia, who are here in view of development plans for Riaydh.
Culture and Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech addressed the opening of the seminar. He expressed his satisfaction that the IFHP had chosen Malta for its second meeting and said that the notion that urban development and tourism must be tackled together is especially relevant for Malta, where land is scarce.
Dr Zammit Dimech gave a brief overview of government’s work and plans for the development and rehabilitation of historic Maltese cities. He highlighted Valletta, Cottonera and Mdina as focus areas but also mentioned Victoria in Gozo as a city of high cultural and touristic relevance.
With regard to Valletta, Dr Zammit Dimech mentioned the various rehabilitation projects currently being carried out, as well as the cruise passenger terminal at Pinto wharf. He said that the government had tried to tackle the development of these areas, particularly the Cottonera cities, through a threefold strategy – historic, economic and social development.
The historic aspect of Cottonera has been on the agenda for quite a while, Dr Zammit Dimech explained, mentioning restoration projects on various historic sites such as the fortifications and the Inquisitor’s Palace in Vittoriosa, which is presently housing an exhibition of torture instruments.
The economic front, among other things, is being tackled through the development of the Cottonera marina as well as the restoration of the Scamps Palace into a casino.
On the social level, he mentioned a number of housing projects that the government had commissioned and also the building of a sports complex, as well as the Appogg one-stop-shop.
Speaking about Mdina, Dr Zammit Dimech mentioned the paving work and the re-routing of electricity cables to underground tunnels instead of the previous unsightly overhead system.
The work of the IFHP in Malta will end tomorrow after a business breakfast regarding the redevelopment of the Opera House site in Valletta.