Sustainable tourism is the only way forward

Sustainable tourism was clearly the only way forward for Malta, the Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Mario de Marco said, stressing that it was not a case of tourism development at all costs.

"In the name of development for tourism, we have committed certain errors in the past that are not easy to erase," he said.

Dr de Marco was addressing an EU funding information session on opportunities for tourism operators at the Intercontinental Hotel.

The Tourism and Sustainable Development Unit within the Office of the Prime Minister has applied to the managing authority for a grant scheme for sustainable tourism projects by enterprises, which should run on a €10 million budget of public co-financing for 2007-2013 - significantly more than the allocation of €2.5 million in the first grant of 2004-2006.

Over 90 per cent of the first grant had been absorbed by the 54 projects that had qualified out of 158 applications. Of the projects that benefitted from the funding, 26 were accommodation and catering enterprises. The scheme was, as yet, a proposal and a formal confirmation from the projects selection committee of its acceptance was still being awaited, Dr de Marco said. However, he was confident it would receive the green light.

The idea behind the information session, organised by Bank of Valletta and the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association in collaboration with the Malta Tourism Authority and the unit, was for enterprise to be prepared to submit projects once the call for applications was made in the first quarter of 2009, followed by another two in the first and last quarter of 2010.

The aim of the scheme is to strengthen Malta's competitive advantage, promote self-sustaining projects that generate economic development and increase innovation in tourism.

Proposed intervention areas include investment in equipment, environment-friendly measures, ICT, entrepreneurship and marketing, while the beneficiaries of the scheme could be small, medium and large enterprises, groups of companies, start-ups and even networks.

Dr de Marco suggested and encouraged, in particular, ideas like reverse osmosis, waste management and composting plants as well as overseas marketing and promotion campaigns.

A new call for project proposals under the European Regional Development Fund 2007-2013 will be launched shortly by the Planning and Priorities Coordination Directorate within the Office of the Prime Minister, specifically for NGOs, voluntary and partner organisations, which are invited to submit applications for projects that promote sustainable tourism, Dr de Marco said.

Speaking about the effects of the public transport providers strike, Dr de Marco said the repercussions would be felt in the months ahead but he was proud of the success achieved in providing a service to tourists.

Dr de Marco was praised by MHRA president Kevin DeCesare, who said he had "led by example" over the last few days, which he spent at the airport.

The proposed grant scheme, Mr DeCesare explained, would rely on both European Structural Funds and the government and total project costs could range between €24,000 and €650,000, depending on the size of the company.

It would continue to enhance the tourism product by assisting in the area of access to finance, he maintained.