Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1165935
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 15 SEPTEMBER 2019 21 COMMERCIAL 19 INVESTOR appetite for local tourism related investments is healthy. This can be seen through the strong take-up of new bonds issued by hoteliers during the last year accompa- nied by a significant demand for shares of companies related to the tourism industry on the Malta Stock Exchange. This was stated by Steve Ellul, Head at BOV Asset Manage- ment Limited during the an- nouncement of results of the MHRA BOV Deloitte survey for the second quarter of 2019 that showed a significant in- crease in bed nights over 2018. 'Investors tend to look for sustainable growth in this in- dustry' continued Ellul. 'This is particularly true for equity investors, whilst bond inves- tors generally consider inter- est coverage as one of the main driver for the investment deci- sions.' In his intervention, Ellul also argued that given its im- portance to the local economy, the Maltese tourism industry benefits from a very supportive government policy. This is be- ing reflected by a recent World Economic Forum report which ranks Malta as 1st globally for the prioritisation of travel and tourism. The main benefits for indus- try players when accessing the Maltese capital markets include the monetisation on otherwise locked wealth on the balance sheet without any loss of control by the owners on the business. This is also coupled by taxa- tion benefits on shares listed on the stock exchange along with the real possibility to pur- sue various growth prospects through a diversified element of financing. 'The financial industry need to continue in its endeavours to inform and educate poten- tial issuers about such oppor- tunities' added Mr Ellul. 'On their part, industry partici- pants would need to allow for a change in corporate culture towards more open and trans- parent communication with capital markets which would allow potential investors to make a well-informed deci- sion.' Investment in the local tourism industry Steve Ellul IN 2019, PERFECTION LU- MIÈRE VELVET foundation becomes ULTRA LE TEINT VELVET. A new name for the same winning formula, with new shades. This ultra-light- weight second-skin foundation naturally smooths and evens out the skin for a matte velvet makeup result. Imperceptible and surprising, its texture of- fers an ideal balance between a matte finish and lightness, cov- erage and naturalness, comfort and long wear. On the skin, it feels weightless and can barely be detected. Instantly, the com- plexion is flawless. Ultra-longwear At the heart of the formula: the Perfect Skin Affinity com- plex. This film-forming com- plex adapts to facial contours, point by point, to form an in- visible and comfortable second skin. Colour, hold and radiance are preserved from morning till evening: colour is fade-proof and smudge proof. Imperfec- tions are discreetly concealed, and the skin feels comfortable. Ultra-correcting Soft Focus powders selected by the CHANEL Laboratories diminish surface irregularities to offer a perfectly smooth and even complexion. On applica- tion, pores look smaller and the skin's microrelief is improved. In parallel, a combination of powders helps absorb sebum. Instantly, the complexion is en- hanced with a matte velvet ef- fect that lasts all day long. Ultra-natural Dark spots, imperfections and redness are impeccably smoothed away, without a hint of heaviness, thanks to the pat- ented Perfect Light Control complex and its blend of two types of hemispherical powders: a radiance boosting semi-sheer powder and a correcting pow- der coated in mineral pigments. This complex ensures the right balance of correction and a matte finish. Its multiple reflec- tions of light even out the face with a veil of seamlessly uniform colour. Ultra-practical Practical and lightweight, dressed in an elegant black bot- tle with a matte cap, ULTRA LE TEINT VELVET slips easily in- to a handbag to simplify make- up touch-ups. Chanel is distributed by Alfred Gera & Sons Ltd Ultra Le Teint Velvet Chanel JULIAN Mallia aka Julinu, an illustrator and fine artist, has been selected as Malta's Am- bassador for the 2019 Euro- pean Vocational Skills Week (14-18 October). Organised by the European Commission, the Week will involve hundreds of events across the EU to highlight the benefits that Vocational Edu- cation and Training (VET) brings to people of all ages. 'Discover your Talent!' is the motto of the campaign and 'VET for all – Skills for Life' is the theme of this year. Julian Mallia aims to show that VET and apprenticeships are a smart choice, leading to high- quality jobs and increased em- ployability. Marianne Thyssen, the EU Commissioner for Employ- ment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, said: "I am delighted that Julian Mallia has accepted to be an Ambas- sador for our European Vo- cational Skills Week in Oc- tober. Vocational education is an excellent first education choice, providing people with the skills needed for the 21st century labour market and opening up many career pos- sibilities. I have been trying to get this message across during my mandate, through initiatives such as the European Voca- tional Skills Week and with the help of our VET Ambas- sadors." Julian Mallia said: "It's a great honour to be selected as Malta's Ambassador for the 2019 European Vocational Skills Week. But it's also an opportunity for me to encour- age people of all ages to look out for the range of career op- tions and vocational courses available today in Malta. I have met the other am- bassadors in Brussels earlier this year - each of whom had very inspiring stories of how they started and how they de- cided to invest in their talent. So I look forward to working closely with the European Commission to raise aware- ness about this valuable initia- tive in Malta as well. I am sure that vocational skills training and apprenticeships can open doors to many professions and trades – carpenter, elec- trician, engineer, designer, musician, sales person, etc to name but a few. In today's ever-changing work environment, it makes more sense to invest in the areas that one genuinely cares about - regardless of age. I myself was already a psychol- ogy graduate when I decided to shift to visual art. So chang- ing one's area of expertise shouldn't be out of the ques- tion," said Julian Mallia. Julian Mallia is one of a group of Ambassadors from different EU Member States who have volunteered to spread the word about VET in their home countries. The European Commission and the national authorities selected Julian for the prestig- ious role in Malta due to his inspiring profile. His work can be viewed on www.julinu.com Last year, over 1,800 events took place across 45 coun- tries including Malta during the third edition of the annual European Vocational Skills Week. The 2019 Week is ex- pected to attract an even big- ger turnout. The total reach of the campaign on social media last year was over 34 million people. Discover your talent: Julian Mallia chosen as Malta's ambassador for European Vocational Skills Week Illustrator and fine artist Julian Mallia aka Julinu