In a pre-budget appeal to Finance Minister Tonio Fenech, GRTU Deputy President Philip Fenech told this newspaper that if Malta has to truly survive the financial storm, it should seek to include more investment in tourism for next year’s budget.
“I am asking government to throw in more money in tourism because our competing destinations are marketing heavily and discounting their prices. During these times, we should ensure a greater focus on our competitiveness,” he said.
Besides his commitments on the GRTU committee, Fenech also sits on the Malta Tourism Authority board.
He insisted that “now, more than ever”, Malta should make its presence felt in the tourism market.
“Our linkages are being lost because airlines are repositioning themselves and tour operators are downsizing all over the world.
“With an island economy like ours, we do not enjoy the benefits of mainland tourism like other countries. Our tourism is only based on air and sea travel, and when you see that we are also anticipating a drop in cruise liner passengers, we must ensure that we are more present in our marketing efforts and product development,” he said.
Weeks ago, it was rumoured that private operators were pushing Minister Tonio Fenech for financial aid in offshore marketing activities.
At a press conference announcing the new electricity tariffs yesterday, we asked the Finance Minister why the Maltese government does not seem to be in synch with its European counterparts in assisting the industry during these times of trouble. After going on the defensive and going as far as saying: “I have yet to see a foreign government subsidising or bailing out industries hard-hit by the global economic slowdown,” Fenech mentioned in passing that tourism operators will be assisted as further investment into the sector is underway.
When the GRTU Deputy-President was asked whether he has made his point on the MTA board before channelling his plea through Business Today, he said: “The GRTU has passed on this message on various boards it sits on, as well as on economic for a such as the MCESD. Tonio Fenech seems to have sensitised to the idea, and the MTA is in full agreement with this.”
