Over the next two years, 759 new jobs will be created in the tourism sector, according to estimates in a study by the Malta Tourism Authority, Tourism and Culture Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said when he was addressing members of the Hotel and Catering International Management Association (HCIMA) yesterday.

Dr Zammit Dimech said that the most crucial players in the tourism sector were the employees, both full-time and part-time.

Figures released by the National Office of Statistics indicate that in November 2005 there were 8,872 full-time employees in hotels and restaurants. There were also 9,174 part-time employees – 3,860 who had another job and 5,314 whose part-time job was their primary employment.

He said that for full-time employees the NSO released average figures for the whole year. These figures show that in 2004 there were 8,404 full-time employees in hotels and restaurants. At the same time there were 7,825 part-time employees. Of these 4,557 were primary jobs and 3,268 were secondary jobs. He said that these figures indicate that in 11 months full-time and part-time employees in the hotels and restaurants sector increased by 1,817.

The Tourism and Culture Minister said that in the hospitality sector, as with any other sector, one had to plan in advance so as to have an indication of the number of jobs needed.

He said that a study conducted by the Malta Tourism Authority about projected employment within accommodation establishments from 2006 to 2008 indicates current bedstock stands at 39,431.

2,707 new beds are projected within the next two years: 1,576 beds in five-star hotels; 1,531 beds in four-star hotels and a reduction of 400 beds in three-star hotels. The minister said that the new hotel openings will require 718 full-time employees and 183 part-time employees.

The loss of 400 beds in three-star hotels will be accompanied by the loss of 45 full-time employees and 22 part-time employees. He said that overall, hotels will in the next two years require an additional 495 full-time employees and 158 part-time employees – 759 new employees.

Minister Zammit Dimech said that assuming that the ratio of full-time and part-time jobs in relation to various departments in accommodation is maintained, the projected 759 new employees can be broken down as follows: 60 in Management/Administration; 53 in Finance; eight in HR Departments; 49 for Maintenance; 318 for the Food and Beverage Departments; 228 for the Rooms Division Department; 13 for Marketing and Sales Departments; eight for Leisure/Health & Beauty; nine for Entertainment Departments and 12 for Other Departments.

Dr Zammit Dimech said that planning in advance was an important aspect of government strategy. He said that planning did not produce infallible results but helped in the formulation of targets. He said that tourism was a dynamic sector of the economy. Tourism was also a top priority sector.

The government’s policy, he added, was such that tourism in Malta should be more experience-based rather than merely promoting Malta as one more destination. The strategy is to diversify our tourism product from summer and winter sun leisure to other segments.

“So far we were able to diversify 44 per cent of our product into the history and culture segment; the conference and incentive travel segment; the sports segment; the English Language Learning segment; Gozo-based holidays segment and the other growth markets segment.” He added that Malta was fast becoming a conference hub.