Preparation for Tourism Development Plan Update

A Steering Committee was set up earlier on in the year by the Tourism Secretariat to pave the way for an update of the Tourism Development (Horwath & Horwath) Plan, published in 1989, in view of major changes which have occurred since the original Horwath report was published. In line with these objectives, the National Tourism Organisation - Malta, has appointed Deloitte & Touche Consulting Group to carry out an initial review, or audit, outlining the present state of the local tourism industry. This initial review should not only assist in the setting of the updated criteria for the revised Plan, but also guide the Authorities for the interim period before the update is finalised.

The audit will include a thorough assessment of recent developments in the Maltese tourism industry, taking into consideration the infrastructure, future transportation networks connecting the Maltese Islands to major source markets, and the utilisation of available financial resources, with a view to exploring potential markets and further developing the more established visitor sources.

The brief, which Deloitte & Touche Consulting Group will be following, will include a review of tourism developments in the Maltese context over the past seven years. An analysis of experience of current tourism trends and issues in other Mediterranean destinations will also form part of the report, apart from delving into recent long-haul tourism developments and their effect on Malta and the surrounding region.

A number of meetings are scheduled to be held with the major players in the industry, both local and overseas. These will include Government departments, the national airline, public corporations and the private sector constituted bodies involved in the tourism industry, as well as a number of foreign tour operators.

The result of this audit will provide the framework around which the Steering Committee will formulate the necessary brief for the forthcoming update of the 1989 Tourism Development Plan.