More DMCs get quality assured seal

Another four destination management companies (DMCs) have been awarded the Malta Tourism Authority’s Quality Assured seal by Tourism Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco and the authority’s CEO Mr Josef Formosa Gauci.

The award ceremony was held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre this afternoon. This brings the number of Quality Assured DMCs to 22, equivalent to 34 per cent of local DMCs.

In his speech, Dr de Marco said that the achievement of this award signified the excellent level service offered by the DMCs.

The fact that 22 DMCs obtained the MTA’s Quality Assured seal in the first two years of the scheme was very encouraging, especially when one considered that a considerable amount of time and resources were needed when one committed to the scheme.

It was encouraging because it showed that DMCs were finding scope for gaining and maintaining the Quality Assured seal, thanks to the many benefits the scheme offered.

Dr de Marco said conference and incentive travel accounted for 3.8 per cent of tourist arrivals in 2009, mainly in the shoulder months, and generating higher per capita expenditure than leisure tourists.

He insisted that the government recognised the value of this industry and was committed to assisting it in several ways, including through the Government Conferences Fund, launched last year, which was to extended to NGOs this year.

The Parliamentary Secretary said that in 2009 the MTA allocated funds for each of the 18 Quality Assured DMCs which were then on the scheme, to partially cover their expenses for an overseas marketing initiative, such as sales calls or advertising, and this was to be done again this year.

Through such initiatives the government aimed to increase Malta’s competitiveness as a destination for MICE, fulfilling the objectives of the National Tourism Policy for the Maltese Islands in so far as quality being one of the key factors for the tourism industry to be more competitive.

This voluntary scheme was launched in September 2008 and the first 18 DMCs were awarded in January last year.

To obtain the Quality Assured seal, DMCs must comply with a number of criteria including general liability insurance, financial stability, efficiency at responding to clients’ requests, client and supplier recommendations, and staff training.

Quality Assured DMCs are audited on an annual basis to retain the quality seal.

www.visitmalta.com/qa-dmc