A Labour government might consider using Maghtab or Tal-Qortin in Gozo as a possible site for a golf course, or expanding the one at Marsa – one of its incentives to help boost the tourism sector and the country’s economy, Opposition Leader Alfred Sant said yesterday.
Dr Sant was speaking during the weekly press conference held at the MLP headquarters where he launched the MLP’s proposals for the tourism and economic sector.
The Opposition Leader explained that a Labour government believes that a golf course will help boost tourism. However, he added, the golf course will not be surrounded by any apartments or hotels.
With regard to Gozo, said Dr Sant, the options are still open. “So far we only know of one application for a golf course in Gozo – Ta’ Cenc. However, there is also the Ta’ Qortin area to take into consideration.”
During the last four years, he added, Malta registered the lowest rate of new full-time jobs. He repeated his promise that a Labour government will raise economic growth to between four to six per cent a year.
A Labour government will increase the number of tourists to 1.6 million with an income of 1.5 billion euros, said Dr Sant.
Even though the number of tourists has increased over the past years, this is still not enough, he added.
“A good strong policy and a long term strategy plan is needed to give Malta’s tourism sector a firm footing,” said the Opposition Leader.
He said that a Labour government will fully support and strengthen Air Malta – something which is not being done by the Nationalist government which, instead, made huge strategic mistakes.
The number of low-cost airlines will be increased while Air Malta will be taken care of and considered as one of the economy’s main pillars, he added.
Dr Sant said that the number of three-star hotels decreased and, as a result, five-star hotels are being put under pressure to reduce their fees.
“An uneven package is being offered to tourists and it’s not fair that 5-star hotels have to reduce their rates,” he said.
A Labour government will focus on niche tourism such as diving, conference trips, religious and agro-tourism, he added.
He also spoke about students who visit Malta to learn English.
“During recent years, students have been staying at hotels instead of living with host families. While they helped boost the hotel industry, students might annoy tourists living there,” said Dr Sant.
The regional development plans, which will be customised for each locality, will boost the overall upgrading of the Maltese tourism product and help the country’s economic growth, he added.
A Labour government will work on upgrading the whole area of St Paul’s Bay, Bugibba and Qawra while supporting niche areas, said the Opposition Leader.
Dr Sant also promised to build at least one five-star hotel in the south – “as there are none left after the Jerma Palace Hotel was closed down.”
The Grand Harbour will reach its full potential through a better use of its resources and more three-star hotels will be built in Valletta, he explained.
He called on small enterprises and businesses which depend on tourism not to lose heart as a Labour government will help boost the economy.
The Opposition Leader referred to the inter-ministerial committee to boost tourism, that is led by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, and said that it has been a great disillusion.
After CHOGM, the Commonwealth leaders’ conference, this committee did not manage to achieve just one of the goals it set out to reach, he said.
All these projects proposed by a Labour government will be financed through various schemes: private-public partnership, securing assets or land, direct investment from private industry, and funds allocated through the budget.