Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1509678
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 15 OCTOBER 2023 THIS IS A PAID COLLABORATION The Ministry for Tourism is performing exceptionally well on many fronts. Sta- tistical analysis and results for2023 show that Malta is embraced for another re- cord year in the tourism sector – across all areas. Our sense of togetherness has so far proved to be the key for our own success and all indications point towards extraordinary records that should sur- pass the base year preceding the COV- ID-19 pandemic in 2019. Although we are still weeks ahead of the end of year, the most recent NSO sta- tistics, released on 4 October 2023, con- firm that the total inbound tourists for August 2023 reached 371,511 while the total spend for the corresponding period stands at approximately €393.5 million. These figures mean an increase of 18.3% when compared to the same month last year. When adding these numbers to the previous positive results of the monthly data of 2023, NSO statistics shows that the number of inbound tourists till Au- gust 2023 amounted to 1,986,260 while the total spend has yielded €1.8 billion. All indications point towards new highs and positive results. These results portray a Public Service that is delivering, while acknowledg- ing that results are not happening in a vacuum. The Ministry is focused on im- proving our self-performance to achieve even more – even though we are facing new challenges owing to our own suc- cess. We are committed to deliver bet- ter results for the good of the tourism sector as the Ministry which is politically responsible for maintenance, cleanliness and upkeep of touristic zones amongst other areas. Collectively with the various entities that fall within the Ministry for Tourism remit, we strive to improve our tourism product and enhance hospitali- ty of the Maltese Islands. Malta Tourism Strategy 2021 – 2030 Our long-term tourism strategy 2030 highlights the need to keep on investing in Malta's tourism product and tourist exclusive experience. The strategy spe- cifically holds that "general upkeep and maintenance need to be proactive rath- er than reactive [while] standards in the levels of cleanliness, upkeep and main- tenance need to be benchmarked at the highest level. An improved general appearance strongly strengthens tour- ists' positive evaluation of their holiday in Malta. This principle goes beyond the direct remit of Tourism and needs to be embraced by all other entities outside the direct tourism universe". The Public Service aim to work for a cleaner and better maintained Malta is unequivocally undisputed. Clean-up and maintenance exercise across the island The Government of Malta, through the Ministry for Tourism, has recently em- barked on a yearly nation-wide exercise that will stretch over nine months to give Malta a general maintenance and clean-up uplift. A nation-wide schedule has been strategically designed to reach each and every street in Malta, especial- ly residential zones which by default are not as much frequently maintained as arterial and distributary roads. Malta, for the purpose of this exercise has been divided into four (4) main areas and further sub-divided into twenty zones; namely 5 within the north area, 7 within the central area, 4 within the port area, and 4 within the southern area. The collective effort will at least involve seven entities and/or Government de- partments falling under four different Ministries. Allow me to acknowledge the sterling coordination and input already shown by Enemalta and the Water Ser- vices Corporation from the Ministry for Environment, Energy and Enterprise, Transport Malta and Infrastructure Mal- ta from the Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure, the Public Works Depart- ment from the Ministry for Public Works and Planning and the Tourism Zones Regeneration Agency and the Cleansing and Maintenance Department from the Ministry for Tourism. Our maintenance and cleaning initi- atives will include, although not only limited to, the increase of manual and/ or mechanical street sweeping, removal of wild vegetation, removal and clearing of illegal dumping, plastering & painting of central strips, traffic islands and pe- destrian railings, repair and replacement of faulty street lighting, repair of minor faulty water leakages, removal of old rusty signage, refreshing of road mark- ings, installation of new signage, wash- ing of pedestrian zones by high pressure equipment and minor asphalt repairs where necessary. The list of initiatives may increase depending on the area and national priorities from time to time. The Government of Malta will be in- vesting more than €1.2million in 2023 and €3.5million in 2024 to achieve our targets. This will include new equipment for our entities and their employees with the addition of tipper vans, wheel shov- els, trucks, and street furniture. Public involvement As a Public Service, we strongly believe in educating people, to prevent unwar- ranted behaviour rather than addressing issues. The aim to improve Malta's tourism product and tourist exclusive experi- ence should be shared amongst us all, as one nation. The clean-up and maintenance exer- cise will continuously educate and guide our communities while involving the general public through various initia- tives spanning over nine months – we aim to get people involved. The Ministry for Tourism will involve our young generations through our state, church, and private schools in tar- geted clean up campaigns within the various communities in close collabora- tion with the Ministry for Education. Local Councils will similarly be consult- ed to involve NGOs as much as possi- ble, community associations and other organisations to participate in this na- tion-wide exercise. The much-needed clean-up and main- tenance exercise for 2023 - 2024 is set to be formally launched next Friday 20th October by the Hon. Minister for Tourism Clayton Bartolo in a press conference that will involve at least 100 students from across Malta and seven participat- ing Government entities/departments. During the press launch, the official lo- go, mascot, and slogans will be unveiled. Conclusion Objective number 13 of the Malta Tour- ism Strategy 2021 – 2030 advocates the need for such a nation-wide exercise; "the successful execution of this Strate- gy and its multiple goals is heavily de- pendent on the continuous roll-out of a planned set of product interventions addressing the various components of the tourist experience. They include new developments, prod- uct upgrades, maintenance and upkeep, conservation, direct products, and gen- eral infrastructure". We are committed to deliver, we are committed to improve Malta's tourism product, we are committed to improve the general environment of our beloved Island to sustain economic growth in a sustainable manner. Join us in this journey, for a cleaner and better maintained Malta! Aiming for acleaner and better maintained Malta