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Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech has hit back at critics saying he is willing to take full political responsibility for his actions, after hotelier Winston J. Zahra told sister newspaper Business Today the Minister must shoulder responsibility.
Talking about low cost airlines, Zammit Dimech said he agreed that a decision needed to be taken over low-cost airlines, but he reiterated that a decision on the matter had to be collective, referring to the Cabinet which appears to be divided down the middle over the introduction of cut-price airlines into Malta.
Zammit Dimech was evidently irked by Zahra’s comments, explaining how he had followed Deloitte & Touche’s targets by closing down overseas offices as suggested. Armed with figures and numbers showing the tourism campaign in the UK had increased arrivals by several thousands, Zammit Dimech said: “Look at the MHRA figures and report and you will see that the figures are not as bad as others picture them to be. I am aware that the hotel industry is adamant over low-cost carriers, and that this decision needs to be taken, but as has been the case in the government this decision will have to be taken collectively.
“On my part I am sparing no effort to have the earliest decision possible and I have been assured by the prime minister that a decision will be taken in the coming days. While on the matter, I am curious to know what the latest position of the Labour opposition is.”
An interview with Francis Zammit Dimech will appear in next Wednesday’s Business Today
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