'Responsible tourism will give us competitive advantage in this current international scenario'—Dr Mario de Marco at World Travel Market in London

World Travel Market

At the crossroads we are in, our participation at the World Travel Market is of great importance. The way forward is that tourism stakeholders realise the need for responsible tourism as that which will give us the competitive advantage in the current international scenario.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, the Hon. Dr Mario de Marco said this while attending this year’s edition of the World Travel Market being held in London. Staged annually, the WTM is considered as one of the top tourism conventions in the world. It is a business to business exhibition that provides a unique opportunity for the whole global travel trade industry to meet, network, negotiate and conduct business. In this year’s edition there are around 5,500 exhibitors – including the Malta Tourism Authority and other local entrepreneurs – representing over 200 countries and regions.

Dr de Marco said that various industry experts are agreeing on the fact that 2009 will be a difficult year as the financial crisis has hit the purchasing power of people all over the world and the fuel price crisis that peaked in the summer has had a crippling effect on the airline industry.

Travel trends are constantly changing with people travelling less and being more price conscious in the selection of their destinations. I am confident however that the tourism industry in Malta will weather the storm if the private industry stakeholders and government worked collectively, added Dr de Marco.

He insisted that it was critical that the industry offers tourists good value for their money. Moreover, we must keep addressing the issues of accessibility and demand by focusing our marketing efforts on those countries and regions where there is a potential to retain figures and possibly grow.

Dr de Marco referred also to the success story of the Maltese cruiseliner sector which although relatively young, earlier this week has reached the 500,000th visitor for this year.

Also attending the World Travel Market are Malta Tourism Authority Chairman Mr Sam Mifsud, CEO Mr Josef Formosa Gauci; Director for International Marketing, Mr Joe Galea; and Manager - Tour Operating & Leisure, Mr Carlo Micallef who, together with Dr de Marco, were all involved in talks with a number of international tourism industry stakeholders – including tour operators and Malta specialists – to find ways how to plan and move forward for 2009.