Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1025219
NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 12 SEPTEMBER 2018 8 a one-stop shop for all your investments BOV INVESTMENTS Issued by Bank of Valletta p.l.c., 58, Triq San Żakkarija, Il-Belt Valletta VLT 1130 More information is available from www.bov.com or contact 2131 2020. The value of investments may go down as well as up and may be affected by changes in currency exchange rates. Bank of Valletta p.l.c. is a public limited liability company regulated by the MFSA and is licensed to carry out investment services in terms of the Investment Services Act (Cap. 370 of the Laws of Malta). COM 1980 MALTA will be connected to ten new airports in Europe as of next summer, Ryanair announced yesterday. Starting as of summer 2019, travel- lers will have the opportunity to fly into Cardiff and Exeter airports in the UK, Lamezia and Perugia in Ita- ly, Nantes in France, Thessaloniki in Greece, Cork in Ireland, Maastricht in the Netherlands, Oslo Torp in Norway and also Luxembourg. The routes to Norway and Luxem- bourg will be the first that Ryanair will be operating to these countries from Malta. The addition of these routes means that Ryanair now operates 61 routes out of Malta, and it also means that another aircraft from their fleet will be based on the island. This brings the tally of Ryanair air- craft based in Malta up to six. Ryanair's David O'Brien said that the addition of these routes means that Malta now has more European connections than Heathrow airport in London. The executive chairman of the Mal- ta Tourism Authority Gavin Gulia said the new routes complement the MTA's strategy of connecting Malta to as many destinations as possible. Gulia said that the routes connect Malta to previously unconnected cit- ies and that this opens up new op- portunities for Malta and the Mal- tese. Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi said the announcement was positive for the sector, but was quick to point out that Malta was more than a sum- mer destination. Arrivals figures, he said, showed how tourism was being spread throughout the year, more than ever before. Ryanair announces 10 new destinations from Malta JAMES DEBONO THE proponents of an agritour- ism development on 6,500 sq.m of land in Bingemma are claim- ing that the policy limiting such development to "contiguous" holdings of 67,000sq.m militates against "genuine farmers" like themselves whose holdings are smaller. Sunripe Limited is an enterprise owned by Charles and Joseph Muscat from Mgarr whose fami- lies till 60 tumoli (67,000sq.m) in different areas. The PA's advisory committee on agricultural issues has recog- nised the applicants as "genuine farmers" but has already told them that they are not eligible for such a development because they do not own 60 tumoli of contiguous land. "No genuine full-time farmer tills 60 tumoli of contiguous land due to our characteristic of Mal- tese Agriculture, fragmentation of land and the inheritance sys- tem of our fields that descends from generation to generation," Sunripe Limited claims. In Malta it is estimated that only 100 farmers own 60 tumoli but in most cases this consists of scattered holdings. Sunripe Limited insists that these farm- ers should also benefit from the policy even if their holdings are scattered. The 60 tumoli limit was intro- duced as a safeguard to ensure that agri tourism developments do not mushroom across the countryside. So far the PA has not approved any agritourism project proposed under this policy although it is faced by four other applications – two in Gozo and two others in Mgarr. The rural policy also refers to "legally-binding farmer-entre- preneur partnerships", who can benefit from the policy if they own 60 tumoli of contiguous land and thus are eligible for ac- commodation facilities of up to 400sq.m. These can be accompanied by other developments foreseen in the policy like wineries, olive oil and honey production, and other facilities. The project proposed by Sun- ripe Ltd is seeking the green light for seven accommodation rooms in the middle of the countryside, covering 372sq.m, four of which will be over 60sq.m. They will be accompanied by a restaurant, lounge and kids play area, and separate outdoor recreational areas with a 92sq.m swimming pool and 45sq.m deck, gazebos and an outdoor cooking area. But the Environment and Re- sources Authority has already expressed its concern that the proposal will have adverse im- pacts on the site and surround- ing rural environment. According to ERA the pro- ject will result in excessive "site formalisation" through the in- troduction of hard landscaping, paving, decking, beaten-earth ar- eas and formal landscaping. It also expressed concern that once the proposed agritour- ism project is established, there would be pressures for further ancillary interventions, such as future extensions, additional out- buildings, physical modifications for the upgrading of site access, resulting in a more formal setting and further uptake of land. But the proponents claim that the chosen site is just a few me- tres away from existing build- ings of Bingemma Hamlet and just 500 metres away from their greenhouses. "It will look like it is part of the hamlet and no eyesore will be created. Trees will be planted, and the landscaping will compli- ment the surrounding area". The proponents of the project rebut allegations that they are land speculators. A business plan sent to MaltaToday shows that their main operation is green- house tomato production. "We cultivate about 23,000 tomato plants per season and produce over 230 tons of fresh tomatoes per year". They also own vineyards lo- cated 700 metres away from the proposed development. For them the agritourism pro- posal is a key to diversification. "Farming in Malta is facing big difficulties competing with high imports. Due to this scenario, prices for farmers are always low but costs are always on the rise. Farmers are struggling to earn a decent living, which is lead- ing our agriculture to a natural death within the next two dec- ades". They warn that in the absence of diversification agriculture is facing extinction. Sunripe Limited was set up for this purpose in 2005 with the aim of producing local artisanal products including jams, wine, liquors and preserved vegetables branded as Tari Tari. They also offer agritourism tours. In its business plan for the proposed development Sunripe Limited claims that they are faced with a continuous demand for lodging by visitors who want to "experience" Maltese agricul- ture. But not all stakeholders agree that new accommodation facili- ties in the middle of the country- side are essential for agritourism development in a small country like Malta. When interviewed by MaltaToday last month farm- ing entrepreneur Jeannette Borg claimed that tourism offers countless opportunities for farm- ers without the need to resort to more building. She noted that a number of B&Bs, particularly in Gozo, are offering homemade jams, scram- bled eggs made from local eggs and gbejniet for breakfast. "They aren't even identified as agritourism outlets and yet some of them are supporting locals by trading with local farmers to bring about delicacies on the ta- ble of their guests". Bingemma farmers defend agritourism project on 6,500sq.m area