The Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise’s Leisure and Tourism Economic Group (LTEG) yesterday expressed its concern over the elimination of the Gozo-based holidays segment from the Malta Tourism Authority Marketing Directorate and said it “leaves much to be desired.”

LTEG Chairman Vincent Tabone was referring to an interview of MTA chairman Sam Mifsud and MTA CEO David Mifsud, published on 30 November.

In the interview, it was said that the original segment groups will be reduced – with the elimination of the summer and winter sun leisure segment, the Gozo-based holidays segment and the growth and other markets segment.

However, the article added, there will be a new segment group on cruise liners.

Both the MTA and the Tourism Ministry view Gozo as the showcase of the Maltese tourism product, but “it seems that the new MTA team is not that much in favour of such a statement and thought it wise to eliminate it as a segment group,” Mr Tabone said.

“We feel the time has come to create the Gozo Tourism Authority which would be autonomous and have its own independent structure to exclusively market and promote Gozo,” added Mr Tabone.

Mr Tabone pointed out that the MTA’s main aims are to market and promote the Maltese islands. As a result, the LTEG does not agree that the MTA should involve itself and pay for part-leasing an aircraft that will be used on different routes next summer.

“This should be the responsibility of our National Carrier Air Malta in liaison with MTA and the money should be spent on the promotion of Malta and Gozo in new markets,” said Mr Tabone.

He added that the chamber’s Leisure and Tourism Economic Group is insisting to meet the MTA to discuss the Malta eTourism Portal and hopes that no decisions are taken before it is consulted.