Malta should not change direction on tourism – de Marco

Tourism Minister dismissed the Labour Party's stance that Malta is in need of a change direction, pointing to the successes achieved in the tourism industry which he said has also been given a stamp of approval by the European Commission itself.

De Marco was speaking during a press conference held at the PN headquarters. flanked by Nationalist MPs Jean Pierre Farrugia and Censu Galea, and PN candidate Therese Comodini Cachia, de Marco outlined the country's progress in the tourism sector over the past five years.

He said that not only has inbound tourism increased by 16% since 2007, but similar increases have also been registered in the total amount of nights spent here by tourists, as well as the total expenditure by tourists in the local economy.

He also noted that figures issued on Monday by the National Statistics Office reveal that January of 2013 was the best January Malta's ever had tourism-wise. He said that estimates suggest that February will be the same.

De Marco said that given how these two months are traditionally quiet months in Malta's touristic calendar, it is a very encouraging sing for the coming years.

De Marco also took the opportunity to hit out that the Labour Party's emphasis that Malta is sorely in need of a change in direction, pointing towards Malta's sustained successes in the tourism industry.

"One does not change a winning horse," de Marco said, insisting that the Nationalist Party's formula in tourism resulted in successes across the board which increased jobs in both the tourism industry, and even in the retail sector.

"Our economies are one of the few in the EU which is growing principally with the strength and resilience of our tourism sector," the minister went on to say.

"That is why I cannot understand the change of direction that Labour is asking for in the tourism industry," he said.

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