Wage supplement will be extended if need be, Tourism Minister says

In a webinar hosted by the Malta Hotels & Restaurants Association (MHRA), Minister for Tourism and Consumer Production Clayton Bartolo said that if need be, the wage supplement will be extended beyond March.

“If we need to extend the wage supplement, then we will be extending it for sure,” the minister said.

Bartolo noted that one of the main aims of the tourism sector right now is to attract tourists who seek quality, while also noting that one should look at this time as an opportunity to adjust progressively.

“We are also at a time when rather than seeing this time as faced with unprecedented challenges, we can see it as a time to start afresh. We will be rethinking and diversifying our tourist base,” he declared.

“I want our tourism to be the front liner of the post Covid-19 era; the tourism sector is one of the most important pillars in the country’s economy.”

The minister also remarked that given Malta’s fast roll out of the vaccines, it will market the country as a safe one to travel to.

Asked if we will be back to business as usual by summer, the minister was cautious in his reply. “Our aim is to be back to business as soon as possible. We are keeping in touch with stakeholders and the health authorities, as they are the experts. Eventually, we will find a balance to open as safely as possible,” he observed.

“We want to ensure that summer will be as normal as possible, even for the tourism sector.”

Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

MHRA president Tony Zahra emphasised that quality should be at the forefront of the tourism strategy.

“Quality is defined as everyone doing the best he does. We must focus on the mentality of people; if we are going to be the second or third best in the international tourism market, we are going to fail,” he stated.

Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) chairman Gavin Gulia noted that the most crucial thing Malta needs to do is to re-establish stronger connectivity with other countries and tourists.

“There is no doubt that there is a strong connection between connectivity, capacity and tourist arrivals,” he said.

Gulia said that the MTA has kept contact with its partners and stakeholders to make sure that connectivity was still there. “I’m sure that with this strategy we will be able to harness connectivity in order to start recovering.”

David G. Curmi, the Executive Chairman of Air Malta, noted that the pandemic has been the greatest showcase as to why there is a need to keep Air Malta alive for the country.

“It provided almost the only form of connectivity. There were still businessmen and passengers coming, and a lot of cargo and mail. Frankly, the answer is obvious to me; we need to ensure the existence of this airline.”

The Executive Chairman pointed out that some bold decisions need to be taken to ensure the sustainability of the airline.

Recover, Rethink, Revitalise

CEO of the MTA Johann Buttigieg said that the MTA has stepped back from spending huge amounts on marketing campaigns but are making sure that Malta is still on the radar for those who might be seeking a holiday. “We are not inviting people to come over. But we are making sure that people know that it is there.”

The first targeted tourists will be from the European market “which will be the first low hanging fruit that we can grasp,” Deputy CEO of MTA, Carlo Micallef, noted. The demographics to be targeted will be couples, families and small groups, mostly ranging from ages 25 to 55, as well as countries which have not been heavily affected by the pandemic in terms of economy, relatively speaking.

Salvu Dalli, the man accused of shooting dead his son last August, has been released on bail after spending seven months in jail.

In a sitting, the magistrate granted bail after taking into account the circumstances of the situation and having seen enough evidence.

Dalli will have to sign a bail book three times a week, between 8am and 8pm, once a day. All passports, travel and identification documents belonging to him will have to be deposited at the law court. He will also be subject to a curfew where he will not be able to leave his residence between 11pm and 6am.

Dalli’s lawyer Lennox Vella suggested that Dalli resides in Żurrieq, and not his native Għaxaq, as his neighbour – Generoso Bonnici – is still to testify in court. Indeed, the court ruled that Dalli cannot go to the locality until Bonnici testifies.

He must also appear in court whenever summoned, cannot speak to any witnesses, and must not commit any criminal offences.

Bail was granted against a deposit of €10,000. As an added guarantee, he must find three people willing to pay out €10,000 each in the event that he breaches his bail conditions.

In total, any breach in bail will result in a €40,000 total payment, and immediate arrest.

Emergency responders testified during Monday’s sitting, describing the scene of the incident upon their arrival.

They said that they had received a call on 7 August over a gunshot injury. A team of responders went to Ħal Għaxaq at 11:30am, entered the premises, and found the body of Antoine Dalli in the shower.

The medical team tried to use a defibrillator on him, but he was promptly certified dead.

The case will continue on 17 March before Magistrate Marseanne Farrugia.

Police Inspector Roderick Attard is prosecuting.

Lawyer Lennox Vella appeared on behalf of the accused, while Lawyers Francesca Zarb and Franco Debono appeared parte civile for the victim’s family.