The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association’s attack on Vincent Farrugia, director-general of the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprise (GRTU), is an attack by an entity that does not accept criticism, said the GRTU.

Replying to an MHRA statement issued on Monday, following comments given by Mr Farrugia to The Malta Independent on Sunday, the GRTU said it has the right to say that the tourism sector is in a pitiful state and to criticise those who directly or indirectly landed the country in this situation. The chamber noted that it represents thousands of operators whose livelihoods depend on tourism.

MHRA members are suffering the consequences of wrong decisions being taken by the Tourism Ministry, said the GRTU, adding that the association is one of the ministry’s partners, so it too is responsible for the situation.

The chamber insisted that those responsible for the disastrous situation in the tourism sector must resign. The confusion in the Malta Tourism Authority caused by the Tourism Ministry has negatively affected a market that was already going downhill, said the GRTU.