FTIAS, a Malta-based back-office subsidiary of German tour operator FTI Touristik, will be expanding further over the coming weeks, having practically doubled its workforce over the past five years.

The company, whose Qormi offices were visited by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday, provides accountancy services to the FTI group, as well as services, such as training and software systems development, to organisations in the tourism industry with ties to its parent company.

FTIAS employs 130 employees, up from the 79 it employed when Dr Gonzi had inaugurated its present premises in 2007. But its workforce will increase to 155 within two months, in line with the growth of the FTI group in Malta and overseas, managing director Kevin-Jude Paris announced.

The FTI group employs around 400 people in Malta, and has bought three hotels and an English language school as well as Meeting Point International, which operates in 14 countries including Malta. It has also purchased a cruise liner which should start operations in April and which should call at Grand Harbour regularly.

The company, Mr Paris said, devoted particular attention to its workforce, with staff training accounting for 5% of its turnover and initiatives including a study support scheme, the possibility to work reduced hours and the opportunity of work placement with other FTI subsidiaries abroad.

It was awarded the excellence award for 2011 by the Foundation for Human Resources Development, and was also awarded excellence in the categories of equal opportunities and learning and development. Both Mr Paris and Dr Gonzi stressed in their speeches that the FHRD was very demanding.

While praising the company’s achievements, Dr Gonzi insisted in his address that these did not happen coincidentally. He said that FTIAS’ growth mirrored that of the country, and also reflected the trust the German tour operator had in Malta’s economic strategy.

Dr Gonzi also said that Malta managed to ride the storm because it had diversified its economy and invested in human resources, as FTIAS did.

Tourism Minister Mario de Marco accompanied Dr Gonzi on his visit.