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MTA Executive Chairman Romwald Lungaro-Mifsud had decided to resign over six weeks ago, Government sources have confirmed with MaltaToday. The revelation comes after leading hotelier Winston J. Zahra called on Romwald Lungaro-Mifsud to resign earlier in the week in the wake of worrying results for tourism in the first quarter.
A senior government source said that: “Mr Lungaro-Mifsud had been responsible for much of the MTA restructuring. He was responsible for the closure of MTA offices, a restructuring process which has been difficult and has involved asking people to return to base. He had decided to move on. Mr Zahra was privy to this confidential information, his outburst and call for his resignation was inopportune and uncalled for, more so when he was trusted with certain facts.”
When contacted yesterday, Zahra said he knew about Lungaro-Mifsud’s intention to resign after being informally informed. Zahra, who has called for Lungaro-Mifsud’s resignation before, explained that his call for the minister’s and chairman’s resignation was not only fuelled by the failed targets but also because of the reaction of senior MTA official Jeffrey Cutajar at the last MHRA meeting.
“The MTA official (Jeffrey Cutajar) said that the strategy for MTA had not been finalised and would be ready in three months’ time,” Zahra said.
“Worse still we discussed low cost airlines and the MTA head of marketing said that he was not involved in any internal discussion on low cost. How can this be? MTA’s Head of Marketing left out of the loop.
“And after all what I have said, is what other members of the Hotel industry are saying,” Zahra told this newspaper.
When confronted by MaltaToday with the fact that he was also involved with government in joint negotiations with EasyJet, Zahra still defended his criticism of government on low cost airlines.
“Low cost is only part of the problem and part of the solution, we are facing horrible figures and facing a bad winter and we have to act fast,” he said.
“The government should stop talking of good news, when there is none.” Zahra was referring to the statement by Francis Zammit Dimech that there would be 800 new jobs in the sector.
“I find it difficult to believe what the Tourism Minister said about 800 new jobs.”
Fellow hotelier Michael Zammit Tabona told MaltaToday: “We are 100 per cent behind Winston’s resignation call. This winter can only be described as a winter horribilis.”
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