Call for better services for cruise liner tourists

The chairman of the Viset consortium, which is building a Lm10m cruise liner terminal in Grand Harbour, has called for a drastic improvement of the "Malta product" in order to satisfy the anticipated growth of cruise liner passengers calling at the island.

Speaking during a seminar on cruise liner tourism organised by the Malta Tourism Authority, Joe Grioli was highly critical of the product and services currently on offer in the sector.

The terminal project is expected to be concluded by January 2005, ahead of schedule.

Mr Grioli said Malta had the fourth most popular port of call in the Mediterranean - but there was stiff competition and it was growing.

A total of 408 ships visited last year, while 466 ships were booked to visit this year. Bookings for 2004 were already "very healthy", according to Mr Grioli.

But he questioned whether the "Malta product" was making the same sort of progress.

For instance, in Barcelona all the players worked in tandem to promote their port, and this was why it was the biggest in the Mediterranean, he said.

Using slides, Mr Grioli showed some of the serious shortcomings faced by cruise liner tourists.

What was the point of enticing cruise liner passengers to Malta when shops and museums were closed during their visit, he asked.

"Are there enough buses to facilitate transport to the city? Why do we still have unfinished and hazardous walkways?"

Undisciplined taxi drivers flouted instructions, causing traffic chaos and ultimately harming Malta's image. Some taxi drivers even went as far as to offer their own tours.

Viset chief executive Chris Falzon outlined the plans for the cruise passenger terminal.

He said the consortium had proposed the introduction of a cable car system providing a three-station arrangement linking Castille Square to the ferry terminal.

Tourism Minister Michael Refalo said the number of passengers calling at Malta last year was estimated at around 340,000, a 30 per cent increase over 2001.

The cruise line business worldwide was valued at $15 billion. Cruise passengers were projected to increase by 60 per cent over the next few years, from 10 million in 2000, to 16 million in 2009. In the next five years alone, 45 new ships were expected to start operating in the Mediterranean.

Dr Refalo said that in his opinion, facilitating access to Valletta was a top priority. Valletta had much to offer in the way of attractions, and visitors should be given every opportunity to spend their money there and get a taste of the different experiences.

The objective of the seminar was to bring together all the stakeholders connected with the business of establishing Malta as a port of call.

MTA chairman John Grech said Malta should exploit its small size to better effect, but admitted that sometimes, the Maltese "have a displaced sense of inferiority complex". It was therefore essential to mould a product to accomodate the client.

The cruise liner business did not depend merely on investment but on commitment, he said.

MTA strategic planning and research senior manager Marie Louise Mangion, who was standing in for chief executive Leslie Vella, spoke about the strategic direction of the cruise liner business in Malta.

Ms Mangion also spoke about the Transport Issues Committee which was set up recently and which brings together the MTA, Viset, Malta Maritime Authority, the Transport Authority and the police.

Replying to some of Mr Grioli's concerns, she said the MTA was promoting and coordinating training for guides in German and Spanish.

Likewise, the MTA and Viset would be holding discussions with Heritage Malta on matters such as the opening hours of museums and historical sites, as well as the improvement of the ticketing system.