MTA strengthens its crisis management capabilities through European initiative

The Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) is poised to enhance its crisis management and governance capabilities through its participation in a pioneering European initiative. Under the auspices of the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), the project titled Crisis management and governance in tourism aims to fortify the resilience of the European tourism sector.

Amid the unprecedented challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the MTA, along with other key stakeholders, recognises the critical importance of effective crisis management mechanisms. The initiative, funded under the Single Market Programme, has attracted significant interest, with 50 destination authorities/organisations and five cross-border professional associations from 22 countries enrolling in the Assistance Service Package. As a Service beneficiary, the

MTA will benefit from tailored advisory and assistance services provided by expert consultants. André Fenech, designated as the Deloitte expert for Malta, will offer specialised guidance to MTA and other participating organisations.

The Assistance Service Package, customised to address the unique challenges faced by the MTA and other participants, includes a series of comprehensive sessions aimed at enhancing risk identification, conducting SWOT analysis and designing actionable plans.

This includes an initial online meeting to set the groundwork and an in-person workshop for collaborative strategising. In Malta, key managerial personnel at the MTA have been engaged to devise an action plan tailored to the unique challenges faced by the destination. This plan will be presented to MTA's top management, accompanied by a proposal to establish a formalised crisis management structure within the organisation.

MTA CEO Carlo Micallef stated: “During the Covid-19 pandemic, the tourism industry encountered its most significant crisis in recent history. The industry is today facing other challenges that while they are surely not on the same level of the pandemic, serve as a regular reminder that we must have systems in place to be prepared to face the unforeseen. Through initiatives like the workshop Crisis Management and Governance in Tourism, the MTA is committed to strengthening its resilience and be better prepared for resisting, managing and mitigating crises that may affect the tourism industry in Malta and Gozo. This is also another measure to ensure a sustainable future for tourism in Malta.”