ADDRESS BY THE HON MICHAEL REFALO, MINISTER FOR TOURISM, AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE INSTITUTE OF TOURISM STUDIES' ACADEMIC YEAR

It is my pleasure to welcome here today the Chairman and members of the Board, all the members of the academic body, administrative and operational staff members, and naturally a very warm and enthusiastic welcome to all ITS students, those of you who will be proceeding with your studies, as well as a special welcome to you who have just joined the Institute.

Today you take your first step along the road of a long and exciting journey towards achieving your life's ambition, that of making a successful career in Malta's largest industry.

Last, but certainly not least, a very special welcome to our new Director General, Mr. Philip Gibbs, who comes to Malta and to the Institute, full of enthusiasm, full of energy and experience and from whom we, and that means all of us here and Malta's tourist industry, expect great things.

To achieve targets and objectives Mr. Gibbs needs all our support. No man is an island and I urge all of you here to give Mr. Gibbs the support that he needs and will certainly be expecting from you.

Mr. Gibbs' appointment bridges a four-year gap. The post of Director General was last held by that much loved and respected gentleman, Professor Mario di Mauro. I am certain that you, Mr. Gibbs, albeit with a different personality and style, will similarly and dynamically lead ITS to greater and even more prestigious heights.

Today the Institute begins its twelfth year of operations. It must continue to further and live up to its mission: that of providing the industry with quality and qualified personnel. We must always keep foremost in our mind that we are all part of an industry that makes a substantial and determining contribution to Malta's economic well-being as well as to the general standard of living of the Maltese people.

Malta depends on us. Your country relies on you. We cannot let our country down. We must all live up to the high expectations of our fellow countrymen and women. You are here to further your education and train for a career. You are here to learn self-discipline, to be well prepared for the time when you are called upon to lead. To be role models for others and gain their support and respect.

Those students who continue their studies will surely notice much improvement to the structure and amenities of the Institute. Kitchen facilities have been expanded. The Vaults Restaurant and junior kitchens have been refurbished. More class room space on campus has been provided. The computer lab has been given a facelift and Internet facilities for students have been provided in the library.

Following Professor Aesclimann's audit of ITS operations, curricula and human resource structures, ITS is well on the way to implementing his recommendations. A staff development programme is under way and the Institute is currently recruiting more academic and specialised staff.

Now that the link between the University of Malta and ITS has been re-forged, management students are again able to proceed from ITS to University and avail themselves of two-year credits when following the B.Comm (Tourism) degree course of studies.

The Ministry has proposed that the University establishes a stand-alone, multi-disciplinary degree course in Tourism.

The annual expansion of Malta's tourist industry both locally and overseas, the coming on stream of the Malta Tourism Authority, the dearth of tourism professionals in the Civil Service, are all cogently urgent reasons for the University to see that come October 2001, the young and not so young who aim for a career in the planning, economic, organisational and directional aspects of the industry, will have the opportunity to further their studies and achieve their ambition.

I was delighted to learn that the University has reacted favourably to the Ministry's proposal and trust that discussions and preparations over the next twelve months will lead to the opening of this much needed, new window of opportunity for Malta's tourist industry.

However it is most unwise for one to concentrate solely on the upper end of the scale and neglect the training and education of those who make up the more numerous, essential, broad base of the industry's human resource complement.

ITS caters extremely well and provides the industry with excellent staff at most operational and craft levels. However, a review of intakes over the last four years clearly indicates some reluctance on the part of our youth to enrol for the F & B service course. Those that do, have higher ambitions, but it appears that a two year course is perhaps too long for others.

My feedback from the industry is, and the Malta Tourism Authority's soon to be completed HR audit should confirm this) that in this sector there is much turn over of staff. That staff are not sufficiently trained, possibly also not adequately remunerated, and that hotels, even those in the higher eschelons of the industry, rely on students, part-timers and the occasional moonlighting expatriate. The industry must also compete for staff with other productive and service sectors where, unlike our industry, weekends and holidays still belong to staff.

Therefore this year ITS will again offer short-term, intensive courses in this sector and in conjunction with Malta's hotel associations and, should they so wish, individual hoteliers, ITS will again launch a scheme to make up for this worrying deficiency in our product. My hope however is that ITS will find more co-operation from hoteliers and staff than they did for the January - March course this year.

We will also encourage exchange schemes which will give Maltese staff already working in the industry, exposure to international systems and conditions while their foreign counterparts train locally. I must however stress that hoteliers who wish to take up this offer must offer and accept ITS students on industrial placement.

Success in tourism is never the result of one man's labours alone. It depends on team work. The same applies to this Institute. I expect everyone, academic, administrative and operational staff to deliver.

The changes in administration and organisation, which have been introduced this year, define each and everyone's duties more clearly and accurately. They are specifically designed to ensure better management, more flexibility, accountability and more discipline.

I have every hope that academic year 2000 / 2001 will again prove to be an excellent year for the Institute.

A last word to our new students. You have all come through a rigorous selection process. You should be proud of your achievement.

ITS wants to be proud of you. We expect the good results, which you are capable of achieving, and above all, dedication, enthusiasm and self-discipline.

These are the qualities which our highly competitive and professional industry expects from you, demands from me, from all those who work in it and whose duty it is to ensure the enjoyment and comfort of our visitors, tourism's continued success, and therefore the progress and prosperity of all Maltese and Gozitans.

Good luck to you Mr. Gibbs, to the members of your academic body, to all administrative and operational staff, and all our students.