MINISTER FOR TOURISM ADDRESSES THE MALTA TOURISM AUTHORITY SEMINAR “SUCCESS THROUGH SYNERGY – AN INTERIM EVALUATION OF MTA'S PROGRAMMES” - MGARR HOTEL, GHAJNSIELEM, GOZO

• GOZO HOTELS FORECAST RECORD YEAR

• SOL MELIA AND ACCOR TO MANAGE GOZO PROPERTIES

• GOZO FEATURES IN "WORLD'S STRONGEST MAN AND WOMAN"

• MTA MARKETS NOVEMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL

• GOZO REGISTERS LOW TOURISM TOLERANCE THRESHOLD

• MTA TO ESTABLISH PRESENCE IN GOZO

• MALTA AND GOZO IN POST TOSS ERA

 When rounding up MTA's half yearly conference which had a special focus on Gozo, Minister for Tourism Michael Refalo recalled that Gozo hotels had enjoyed their best ever year in 2000. The Minister went on to announce that following an HCEB telephone survey this week which involved all 3,4 and 5 star properties, Gozo is again en route for another record year.

Most establishments achieved improved results during the first four months of the year and some even had to refuse business for May and June. The general outlook for summer is positive. 

Among the survey's other findings was that the 50% reduction of Frosch's programme for the Maltese Islands had severely effected occupancy levels particularly in two hotels, while on the basis of current bookings it was anticipated that most Gozo hotels should register higher occupancy levels in 2001 and move closer to the national average. 

"Gozo has much to offer and I am extremely pleased at the change of attitude shown by Gozo hoteliers and tourism operators. The begging bowl era is long gone and a new era based on self reliance and the knowledge that Gozo offers visitors an excellent product and a wonderful holiday experience, prevails.” 

The Minister added that Gozo would not have attracted the likes of Sol Melia and Accor, two of Europe's major hotel management and operating groups, were they not convinced of the excellent prospects ahead for the Island's tourism.  

"Government's new policies for tourism development are based on the principles of sustainability. We must work within the parameters of our chosen controlled growth scenario and therefore give more importance to strengthening winter and shoulder month business."  

Minister Refalo said that sport and culture played a prominent role in helping to solve the seasonality problem. "This is precisely why I was pleased to learn that the Ta' Cenc Golf Course project has moved, albeit too slowly, a few steps closer to fruition along the laborious process charted by Planning Authority." 

The Minister went on to say that golf courses are an attraction in themselves and unless Malta wished to be the only Mediterranean country without a golf course of an international level the "it is high time that a fast track process isgiven to these projects. " 

The Minister then referred to inspections which MTA and the Health Authorities are presently undertaking and to the findings of Holiday Which?. The magazine had established that one in four of all UK travellers suffered some kind of stomach ailment while in holiday. "Being so small anything contacted even at a village festa can be very damaging to Malta and Gozo. We must ensure that all food outlets comply 100% with health and safety regulations. We cannot take risks.  I have no sympathy for those who constitute a real threat for Malta's tourism industry."  

Minister Refalo said that Malta had again succeeded in hosting the filming of a popular TV show, with a European and world wide audience. “The World's Strongest Man and Strongest Woman will again be staged and shot in Malta. But this time one or possibly two of the competitions will be filmed in Gozo. I wish to thank my colleague Minister Debono as well as Gozo Channel Chairman, John Sullivan, for helping to make this possible. I am told that one of the competitions involves the bare handed towing of a Gozo Channel ship!" 

Minister Refalo recalled that when he last addressed the Gozitan tourism operators in August 2000 he had mooted that Victoria's Philarmonic Societies should look into organising a classical music festival during the low season.  “I am therefore very pleased to announce that the La Stella Club took up the idea and will launch Mediterranea which will focus on works by Giuseppe Verdi.  Since January this year La Stella and the MTA are working closely to market the festival overseas." 

The Minister then referred to the Carrying Capacity Study which had been undertaken to measure the physical and social extent and tolerance levels of tourism. A number of surveys had been undertaken and it was most revealing that Gozitans had a much lower tolerance level to tourism than that prevailing in Malta.  The Minister opined that Gozo's relative smallness, when compared to Malta, accounted for the difference in attitude. “We must therefore take great care to ensure that the Gozitan population continues to welcome tourists and not see then as necessary evils or worse, unwanted invaders."  

“Although Gozitan operators rely mainly on their hard work and initiative government is still very conscious that they have to face challenges which their mainland counterparts do not. That is precisely the reason why during this summer season UK and Irish Tour Operators will receive a higher cash bonus for increasing the number of visitors to Gozo”.  

"We have decided to give a bonus this year inorder to off set the adverse effects which the increase inthe UK's departure tax will have on the British market to Malta. Other arrangements withtour operators have been made for 2002 and beyond to wean them off TOSS”. 

The Minister said that although from winter season 2001 / 2002 UK and Irish tour operators will not benefit from a subsidised rate of exchange, he was pleased to announce that Thomson Holidays plans to increase programmes for 2002.  “I am also informed that there is an increase of UK bookings for Gozo hotels”. 

The year was developing as forecast. Minister Refalo anticipated gains from many European markets but was not sure whether gains would be enough involume terms to make up for the large losses expected from the German market during the summer months.  “Every year tells its own story. We will only know what ending 2001 will bring on the stroke of midnight come New Year's Eve”. 

Finally the Minister announced that he had directed the Malta Tourism Authority to secure a permanent presence in Gozo, one which would offer information to visitors, monitor and ensure compliance to standards and regulations, and see to the Authority's administrative requirements for Gozo.