Parliamentary Secretary discusses the current situation in tourism with a delegation from the GWU

The Parliamentary Secretary the Hon Dr Mario de Marco and a delegation from the GWU headed by Mr Tony Zarb, recently met to discuss the tourism sector, with a particular emphasis on employment.

Dr de Marco stated that a close eye was being kept on the tourism sector and initiatives were being considered to assist this sector. He referred to the agreement reached with the banks to grant moratoriums on capital repayment to hotels, with the aim of having a positive effect on the hotels and protecting employment.

The MTA and the Government were working to try and reduce the negative impact the international crisis will have on Mlata by increasing investments in marketing and securing accessibility to Malta from more destinations.

The GWU voiced its concerns about employment in this sector and how it will be affected by the international economic downturn. The GWU said it would be making use of its contacts to try and bolster tourism and in fact a number of trde unionists will be visiting Malta in the near future.

Mr Tony Zarb also referred to the moratorium initiative and asked Dr de Marco to keep them informed on the outcomes, Dr de Marco said he would do so in the same way he is in regular contact with a number of other stakeholders

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Is-segretarju parlamentari għat-turiżmu jiddiskuti l-qagħda tas-settur turistiku lokali ma’ delegazzjoni tal-GWU

Is-Segretarju Parlamentari għat-Turiżmu fl-Uffiċċju tal-Prim Ministru, l-On. Dr Mario de Marco u delegazzjoni tal-General Workers’ union immexxija mis-Segretarju Ġenerali, is-Sur Tony Zarb, ilbieraħ ltaqgħu sabiex jiddiskutu s-settur turistiku lokali, b’enfasi partikolari fuq l-impjiegi.

Dr de Marco qal li l-Gvern, flimkien ma’ dawk kollha involuti fis-settur turistiku lokali, qiegħed isegwi mill-viċin u jikkonsidra inizjattivi biex jgħin din l-industrija tiffaċċa l-kriżi ekonomika internazzjonali.

Hu rrefera għall-inizjattiva mħabbra lbieraħ fejn il-banek kummerċjali lokali qed jappoġġjaw inizjattiva tal-Gvern biex jingħata moratorju fuq il-ħlasijiet fuq kapital (capital repayments) sa sena għas-sidien u l-operaturi tal-lukandi. Hu sostna li din l-inizjattiva mistennija tista’ tħalli effett pożittiv fuq l-impjiegi fis-settur tal-lukandi u fl-istess ħin tassigura li l-lukandi jkomplu bil-programmi tagħhom ta’ manutenzjoni u titjib, billi qiegħda tħalli aktar riżorsi f’idejn il-lukandi.

Is-Segretarju Parlamentari qal li l-Gvern u l-MTA qed jaħdmu sabiex inaqqsu l-impatt negattiv tal-kriżi internazzjonali kemm billi jinvestu iktar fil-marketing tal-pajjiż u kif ukoll billi titjieb l-aċċessibbiltà permezz ta’ aktar titjiriet minn aktar destinazzjonijiet lejn pajjiżna.

Is-Segretarju Ġenerali tal-GWU min-naħa tiegħu qal li l-Union tinsab imħassba dwar l-impjiegi f’dan is-settur hekk kif is-swieq l-iktar importanti tal-pajjiż jinsabu għaddejjin minn riċessjoni u li din tista’ taffettwa l-industrija lokali. Huwa qal li l-Union ħadet l-inizjattiva biex tisfrutta l-kuntatti trejdjunjonistiċi internazzjonali tagħha għall-benefiċċju tas-settur turistiku lokali, fejn il-ħidma tagħha diġà bdiet tagħti l-frott u l-ewwel grupp huwa mistenni jasal Malta fil-ġimgħat li ġejjin.

Is-Sur Zarb rrefera wkoll għall-inizjattiva mħabbra mill-Gvern dwar moratorju mill-banke għal self tal-lukandi u qal li l-GWU tilqa’ din l-inizjattiva. Huwa talab lil Dr de Marco sabiex il-union tinżamm infurmata dwar l-iżviluppi li jista’ jkun hemm f’dan il-qasam.

Dr de Marco laqa’ din it-talba u qal li fi ħsiebu jżomm kuntatt regolari mal-GWU bħal kif jagħmel ma’ numru ta’ stakeholders oħra.