Mur Lura
SPEECH DELIVERED BY MINISTER FOR TOURISM, HON. DR. MICHAEL REFALO AT THE PRESENTATION OF EU EXPERTS’ REPORT ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF THE ACQUIS COMMUNAUTAIRE ON THE TOURISM SECTOR IN MALTA AT THE FORTRESS SUITE, HOTEL CORINTHIA SAN GORG ON 31ST JULY 2001
pr1150
31/07/2001
31/07/2001
Please join me in welcoming Professor Scipioni, Dr. Downes and Dr. Micallef, who are the main compilers and drafters of the second part of the report fully funded by the EU, which assesses the impact of EU membership on the main sectors of Maltas tourism industry.
| The first part of the report, that relating to | guides, was presented by other team experts some weeks ago appropriately to the members of the guiding profession. |
| The report reviews the pre and post EU membership | scenarios, the setting out of a road map, and gives a run through of the new and exciting opportunities which EU membership will bring. |
| Our expert guests would however fail in their duty | to inform and advise if their presentation today did not also include the reverse side of the coin. So we will also be learning today about the challenges which we must overcome and the threats we must meet. |
| Those of you who have been in the trade for some | years will certainly recognise and accept that we have come a long way. But I believe that we would be foolish if we kid ourselves into believing that we have no need or room for further improvement. |
| Much of what you will hear about today is what we | ourselves talk about, write about and complain about. Matters that must be put right not because of some Brussels diktat but because we ourselves acknowledge that we must see further product improvement, more efficiency, more professionalism, as well as still higher and more consistent service standards which we provide and offer our visitors. |
| This independently of whether Malta joins the EU or | opts to stay out. |
| There is overall consensus among us and all admit | that at some time in the future we must get round to doing what we should have done years ago, but which we have not got round to doing yet. Either because we cannot afford the cost or because getting our act together could be painful. But we are all agreed that these measures are necessary and that things must be put right. |
| EU membership may, and most probably will, put | pressure on us to do what we believe is right and what we should have done years ago. EU membership will also put funding, support and expertise our way to help us achieve our agreed goals, and with much less pain. |
| Some of you closely follow developments and the | state of play of Maltas membership bid and are aware of the implications and impacts of EU membership. |
Many others do not and have not.
| I need not remind you that Malta is the only EU | candidate country where no consensus exists on EU membership. |
| Allow me to refresh memories about the European | Parliament rapporteurs statement on Maltas membership bid, namely her deploring the deep division of opinion that exists among us. |
| I believe that one underlying reason for this | division is because many of us are content to let others think for them. Content to rely on headlines, impressions and perceptions and on the brief conflicting snippets, correct or otherwise, which rival media throw up for popular consumption. |
| The vote which we will be called upon to cast in | the forthcoming referendum on the EU will impinge on Malta today, in the short term, and on the very long term future of many, many generations of Maltese. |
| It is a decision that cannot be taken lightly and | without serious thought. |
| I have therefore made it my mission to see that all | information about the EU, the implications and impact of membership, is fully available to all tourism operators as well as their staff, so that come Referendum Day, the members of the tourism family will be able to make an intelligent and educated choice. |
| It is therefore my Ministrys policy to provide | the trade and those, be they workers or entrepreneurs, who rely so heavily for their livelihood and quality of life on a successful tourism industry, with full, clear and unbiased information. |
| That is why the Ministry sponsors and will continue | to support initiatives by trade organisations which follow and drive similar policies to keep their members fully informed. |
| That is why you have been invited here to learn at | first hand from experts whose responsibility is to inform fully and without spin or bias. |
| Some of you may quite correctly ask why the report | and the presentations do not focus on areas which are also of concern to us. Such as the environment, transport issues, heritage and culture. As my colleagues in other ministries are looking into those matters I am sure that you agree that it would not have been wise to duplicate effort. |
| Our brief to the members of the team was to focus | on core tourism issues, namely the accommodation and catering sectors and also the management of travel agencies in line with the relative EU directives. |
| So I invite Professor Scipioni and Dr. Downes to | address this gathering and present their teams report. |
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