EPaper

Number of tourists estimated to exceed 2 million by end of year – Tourism Authority

MARC GALDES

The number of tourists visiting Malta is estimated to exceed 2 million by the end of the year, Malta Tourism Authority CEO Carlo Micallef revealed.

He spoke during the 2022 Rediscover Tourism Conference, hosted by The Malta Chamber of Commerce.

Micallef said that inbound tourism declined in 2020, but nearly reached 1 million tourists in 2021.

Micallef also said that air seat capacity was 78% of pre-pandemic levels for the first 6 months of the year. Since May, he added, the air seat capacity has been better than that of 2019.

The estimated air seat capacity for winter 2022/2023 will reach 91% of pre-pandemic levels, he said.

Malta Chamber president Marisa Xuereb made reference to the study conducted last week by Deloitte which was commissioned by the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA). It concluded that Malta will need 4.7 million tourists to accommodate 80% of the planned increase in bed stock. Xuereb also mentioned that the Chamber had conducted a similar study in November 2021, with similar results.

"You cannot be everything for everyone at once," she said.

In reference to the results of these studies, she asked why permits continue to be granted even though Malta does not have the capacity to cater for more.

Instead, Xuereb said that the country must focus more on improving Malta's current tourism infrastructure.

"Policies will not please everyone at once, but without them, it will ruin everything at once," Xuereb said.

Minister for Tourism Clayton Bartolo also spoke during the conference, and he said that "Malta cannot afford to have more development to meet tourism demand."

During Bartolo's speech, he praised Malta for striving in the tourism industry, despite all the issues the world is facing at the moment, and he praised Air Malta for doing well with its seat capacity.

Bartolo said that later on this year, infrastructural projects will start in Ghadira, while a tender is currently being drafted for the preparation of a regeneration tender for Bugibba and St Pauls Bay area.

He said that this will take into account spatial planning and sustainable urban development, infrastructure and transport, social development, existing and new economic activities, and sustainable tourism.

He further said that there is also the Paceville town centre management project, which aims to transform Paceville into a safe and vibrant area.

Bartolo also highlighted the

Clayton Bartolo

NEWS

en-mt

2022-09-29T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-09-29T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://maltaindependent.pressreader.com/article/281552294736096

Malta Independent