03rd September 2002

MTA should explain itself over Qala

For Malta’s hotels to break even we would have to attract 1.6 million tourists staying 9.5 days each on average provided they do not stay with host families, and that only if hotels do not offer discounted prices.

The reality is that this year we will hardly attract 1 million tourists staying less than 9.5days, many of who will stay with host families.

Friends of the Earth (Malta) cannot understand why the Malta Tourism Authority is suggesting the approval of yet another 200-bed hotel in Qala Gozo, given the current oversupply of tourism accommodation.

What sense does this make when some of our best hotels have been experiencing around 35% occupancy during the high season? What is the point of adding more hotel beds when this will only make it more difficult for all existing tourism accommodation?

Hotelier Winston J Zahra has the answer: “The real solution is to provide a quality product and give priority to developments which take on existing properties and refurbish them instead of new properties developed on virgin land. In this way, the number of beds will not increase but the quality will improve and the development will be sustainable from an environmental point of view.”

Zahra’s suggestion makes perfect economic and environmental sense. Friends of the Earth (Malta) calls on the MTA to explain to the public why it is taking an opposing view to the vice president of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association.