The generally successful Games of the XXX Olympiad come to an end to-day. During the last fortnight, millions of fans who managed to be present at the different venues and billions of television viewers around the world have been entertained with exciting competitions from all the 26 disciplines that were included in these Games. Memories will linger on and the word “record” will continue to echo not only until the next Games in four years time in Rio de Janiero, but for many years to come, as young and old recall the exceptional feats of the world-class performers who stood on the podium and others who just failed to win the precious medals. Golden wonders join the millionaires list, while those who have already made a big hit continue to add to their fortunes and reputation.

Credit goes to our athletes who did their very best and in one particular instance also managed to break a national record. Unfortunately, it was not William Chetcuti’s day. Nonetheless, he remains a world class athlete and can still give us more moments of pride and joy in the years to come. We have invested in our athletes and the representative organisations and they were well prepared. This year alone we have issued 26 incentive schemes amounting to €8 million of assistance to our local sports organisations.

The Olympics and the British economy

The sporting spectacle in London and elsewhere will provide a legacy for young people around the world, while the British Government will do its utmost to reap the economical benefits.

It is anticipated that the London Olympics will net the British economy £4 billion profit. The media reports that, along with the increase in tourism, the Olympics must have brought with them the largest ever trade and investment event in the UK. Secretary of State Vince Cable is reported to have admitted that the positive results are very realistic when he said that “the Olympics are not just a great sporting spectacle, but also a great opportunity for the UK from a business and economic point of view”. British Prime Minister David Cameron took advantage of the Games to address a group of business executives during a business breakfast and appealed for more investment in his country.

Local records

While reflecting on these details – which combine a major sporting event with a country’s priorities, I could not help reminding myself about our records not directly connected with sporting achievements but in a particular sector which is so vital to our economy. The ever-increasing number of tourist arrivals continually topples previous records and boosts the local economy.

In this major industry, during these last years we have broken all records regarding arrivals, bed nights and spending, with the exception of 2009 when Europe was badly hit by an economic crunch during the previous year and we were also affected by the situation.

Thanks to clever and rewarding initiatives, the pattern was changed and the desired results were registered with much satisfaction to all involved in the industry. Last year, as a result of the combined efforts of all the stakeholders, a record 1,411,748 tourists spent 11,680,167 bed nights and added €1.23 bn. to Malta’s economy which surpassed the previous year’s figure by just over €100m. When these details are matched with the total arrivals registered during 2008 (1,290,856) and during 2010 (1,336,391), it shows that records are meant to be broken but only through effort, vision and the implementation of a well-planned policy. According to figures published by the NSO, 147,361 tourists visited Malta during the month of June, which means that there was an increase of 6.2 per cent on the corresponding month last year.

Sports tourism is a growing niche and also forms part of this success story. Thousands of sports people visited Malta for diving and for an array of sports activities following the introduction of a sports tourism scheme in 2009, which is also beneficial to our National Sport Associations; after all, they are the protagonists who attract foreigners to organise conferences, seminars, training camps or tournaments on our island where one finds a number of top class facilities.

The popular and frequently used phrase “nothing just happens” is actually applicable. In this field, as in others, we depend primarily on our human resources and certainly on the government’s vision which is based on sound education, the economy and the environment. The main mission is the creation of jobs. Facts, more than anything else, prove that we are on the right road and our record of having among the least number of unemployed within the EU cannot be ignored.

Successful initiatives

Accessibility, promotion and the touristic product are the three main initiatives that proved so beneficial and successful to the industry. Our national carrier and other airlines have increased the number of routes to 74 from the 45 that were flown five years ago. Low-cost airlines have added yet another seven routes to and from Malta and all this shows an increase in the demand for tickets. The Malta Tourism Authority’s promotion and marketing programmes have also had an effective result. The world-class branding campaign is certainly paying rich dividends and the efforts that are made by our embassies cannot be ignored. The product that we are offering remains competitive despite the stiff competition from other countries that are also keen to prosper.

The government has introduced a number of schemes that are meant to get the private sector involved in sustainable tourist products.

A high number of sites that are popular with tourists have been upgraded while extensive restoration projects continue to enhance our heritage and culture. Special attention is continually being given to the environment sector, which is vital for economic growth, the general image of the Islands and certainly of primary importance for the health of the citizens and a better way of life. Gozo is being singled out as an attraction in itself and about 24 operators in various countries are busy promoting the attractions of our sister island. The cruise sector compliments the industry and aims at attracting visitors who come and spend only a few hours in Malta to come for a longer stay. Last year, 556,554 passengers visited Malta and spent €33.4m, an average of €60 per head.

The National Policy looks to the future and ensures that nothing but the best is offered to our guests. The success in recent years augurs well for the future, which means the creation of wealth and more employment. This week’s reopening of the Seabank Hotel following a €32 million local investment is but one of the signs of our thriving economy, even in such times as these.

Clyde Puli is parliamentary secretary for youth and sport