We have learnt to expect negative results from the tourism industry, judging by the way the sector has been developing over the past months, perhaps even years. Therefore it came as no surprise that once again hoteliers have expressed their concern after, for yet another quarter, there has been a decline in tourism figures.

The survey commissioned by the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association for the second quarter of this year has revealed more negative results for the local tourism industry, with a decline in occupancy in the three-, four- and five-star hotel category.

Although hotels managed to register an increase in the average achieved room rates, which mitigated the negative impact of lower occupancy levels, at the same time they recorded a decline in operating profits. What is perhaps more worrying is the fact that the period under review this year included the Easter season, traditionally a busy period for the hotel industry, and which this year was celebrated in April.

It goes without saying that the situation in the tourism industry is deteriorating, and whatever is being done is not helping to stop the slide. The problem is that this has been happening for quite some time, and yet nobody seems to have come up with a solution. Campaigns have been held, consultative bodies have been set up and an inter-ministerial group was formed to come up with solutions, but the results have not been forthcoming.

Just as much as it was difficult for Malta to build itself into one of the best destinations in the Mediterranean over a period of time post Independence, it is proving difficult these days to recover from one setback after another. And the light at the end of the tunnel can hardly be seen.

There was a time when the terrorist attack on the United States in 2001 was given as the main reason why a decline was being registered. But five years have elapsed since and it can no longer serve as an excuse.

There are no signs that matters are improving. If anything, they are getting worse, even considering that other competing destinations are doing much better when compared to Malta. The MHRA survey pointed out that, for example, occupancy levels in Costa del Sol increased by nearly nine per cent in the same quarter, while Majorca, Cyprus and the Canary Islands also registered better results.

It is highly unlikely that the results for the summer months of July, August and September will be encouraging, and it also does not seem possible that what was lost will be recovered in the last three months of the year. This means that once again, tourist arrival targets set by the government will not be achieved.

Hoteliers are waiting with bated breath as over the next few months low-cost carriers will start their operations to and from Malta after months of haggling. While on the one hand such a decision is aimed at attracting more visitors to Malta, on the other hand one cannot expect miracles. Low-cost carriers might give a helping hand in the long run, but they will not resolve the tourism problem.

We have taken the tourism industry for granted for far too long. We thought that something that worked well over many years and that sustained our economy in a big way would continue to function properly without making necessary adjustments. We believed that people would still flock to Malta in spite of our unkempt country, poor roads and the deteriorating services. We felt that tourists would come again and tell others to visit us even though we overcharged them and did not give them value for their money.

And now we are paying the price for this.