Sam Mifsud appointed MTA chairman

Valletta, 20/07/06 - Sam Mifsud, managing director of SMS Travel & Tourism, has been appointed chairman of the Malta Tourism Authority. His two-year appointment starts on 1 September. Mifsud will take over from Romwald Lungaro Mifsud, who steps down as executive chairman of the MTA on 31 August, and returns to Corinthia Hotels International.

Mifsud, meanwhile, will be acting as designate chairman and will form part of the selection board that will be choosing a new CEO for the authority.

Mifsud's appointment follows consultations by the minister for tourism and culture, Francis Zammit Dimech, with various stakeholders representing the tourism industry. These talks "were carried out for the first time ever". Various associations were asked to submit recommendations in writing for the post of MTA chairman. Five associations out of the seven consulted, and in two cases was nominated on an exclusive basis recommended Mifsud.

Leading tourism stakeholders such as the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA), the Federated Association of Travel and Tourism Agents (FATTA), the Federation of English Language Learning Schools (FELTOM), the Gozo Tourism Association (GTA) as well as the General Retailers and Traders' Union (GRTU) recommended Mifsud as chairman of the Malta Tourism Authority.

Mifsud is well known for his proven management and leadership skills combined with exceptional competence in developing, managing and motivating a team to achieve their targets and objectives. He is also known for his 'can do' approach to challenges facing him, ensuring to work with persons around him to achieve the best possible results. He has extensive experience of various aspects of the tourism industry.

This morning Mifsud had a meeting with the prime minister Lawrence Gonzi and Zammit Dimech.

Government issues call for LCCs, promises financial aid

Valletta, 20/07/06 - The government is issuing a call for proposals from low cost airlines to operate new and underserved routes to Malta.

The call, which will be appearing tomorrow on the Department of Information's website - www.doi.gov.mt - opens up the possibility for low cost airlines to operate to Malta from Luton, Ireland, Pisa and Mulhouse-Basel, says a DoI press release.

In line with European commission guidelines, financial aid will be provided for start-up costs incurred in operating these routes and will be provided for a maximum period of five years. The financial aid will be awarded subject to the approval of the European commission of the whole initiative. 

The call for proposals will also be published in the Malta Government Gazette and will be advertised in international airline magazines and websites. The call is open until 25 August 2006. Similar calls will be made in the future for additional routes.

Italy becomes top destination for Malta travellers

Valletta, 20/07/06 - May was a good month for outbound travel, according to the National Statistics Office. The NSO says 21,870 Malta residents went abroad, of these 17,651 travelled by air - an increase of 47.1 per cent compared to May 2005.

In the first five months of the year the number of Malta residents travelling abroad totalled 83,203, an increase of seven per cent over the same period a year ago.

Italy was the most popular destination for Malta residents in the first five months of 2006, accounting for 28.3 per cent of the total - overtaking the United Kingdom, the perennial favourite. Other popular destinations were the United Kingdom, Belgium and Germany.

EU clamps down on non-transparent pricing

Brussels, 20/07/06 - EU transport commissioner Jacques Barrot outlined proposals to prohibit airlines from advertising fares excluding any applicable taxes, charges or fees, e.Tid.com reports.

The proposals, part of a plan to modernise the EU’s single market for aviation, would also prohibit airline pricing that discriminates between passengers "solely on the basis of their place of residence within the European Union".

"The liberalisation of air transport is a European success story: citizens enjoy more travel opportunities and lower fares than ever before", Barrot said in a statement. "We want to consolidate this success by removing all restrictions to the free provision of air services and ensuring fair competition between airlines.

"Citizens must enjoy the benefits of the single market and have the possibility for more choice and quality. They must be able to easily compare fares between airlines". He added that consumers were being mislead by "seemingly interesting fare offers", only to be surprised when they discovered the full fare at the moment of payment.

The proposals also aim to ensure the correct application of the commission's regulations across the EU, including the financial conditions that all EU airlines must meet to gain an operating licence and the monitoring of such licences.

And, while they ease the requirements for the leasing of EU-registered aircraft by European airlines, they introduce stricter requirements for the use of third country aircraft, particularly those leased with their crew (ie wet-leased), "to ensure safety standards and minimise adverse social consequences". The proposals will now be put before the European parliament and EU governments for approval.

Ryanair welcomed the move, saying that greater transparency in airfares would highlight the "enormous difference” between its prices ("average £28" (Lm17.68)) and the "high fares of competitors like easyJet (£42 (Lm26.50)) or British Airways (£191 (Lm120.60))".

The airline added that it would also ensure that the "rapacious fuel surcharges" of BA (£35 (Lm22)), Air France (€51 (Lm22)) and Lufthansa (€62 (Lm27)) were included in their advertised prices, "while Ryanair continues to guarantee no fuel surcharges, not today, not tomorrow, not ever".

Last week, Austrian MEP Eva Lichtenberger said she planned to ask the commission to investigate Ryanair, following claims on a German TV programme that the airline gives the impression certain commercial charges included in its flight prices are in fact government taxes. However, Ryanair denied any misrepresentation of its charges, insisting that all of its fees accurately reflected costs imposed at Europe’s airports.

MCN introduces audio guides for liner passengers

Valletta, 20/07/06 - Malta Cruise Network (MCN) has introduced a new service for cruise liner passengers walking from the Valletta Waterfront. This consists of an audio guide in five languages that include the waterfront and a walking tour of the principal sites in Valletta.

By pressing the corresponding number indicated on a map, a commentary in English, Spanish, German, Italian or French, can be followed. The historical and cultural aspect of the Maltese islands and their capital is highlighted. The equipment is user-friendly and easy to operate.

This is the latest addition to the services that MCN is already offering passengers at the cruise terminal.

MCN, meanwhile, is currently in the final stages of concluding deal to introduce a scheduled bus service to cover the terminal area.

Kempinski signs deal for 'stan' hotels

San Lawrenz, 20/07/06 - Germany's Kempinski Hotels has signed a cooperation agreement with Okan Holding, one of Kazakhstan's leading real estate development companies, covering the four 'stans' of central Asia - Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan.

Under this agreement, Kempinski Hotels and Okan Holding have already signed a management agreement for a new five star property in Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city with 2.8 million inhabitants, opening in 2008. The Kempinski hotel will be part of a luxury complex in the exclusive Bostandík district. Kempinski is set to manage the modern 230-room hotel and serviced apartments, which will feature a conference centre with ballroom, business centre, several restaurants as well as a spa and fitness centre.

Okan Holding is also planning a development in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, also opening in 2008. The futuristic complex in the Mikrorayon district features a base podium with Astana's largest shopping mall as well as an impressive business and convention centre. An office tower on 16 floors will offer 16,000 square metres of office space. A further two towers will be managed by Kempinski. The first tower will offer exclusive private residences on all 24 floors and the second will offer these residences on the lower levels only, totalling 190 residences available for sale. The upper levels of the second tower will house an all-suite luxury hotel, intended for extended stay business guests.

The largest state in central Asia and the world's ninth largest in terms of land surface, Kazakhstan's steppes and deserts yield an abundance of mineral reserves and enormous fossil fuel resources.

Chevron Air Holidays launches Gozo breaks

Mosta, 17/07/06 - Windsor-based Chevron Air Holidays has launched a range of holidays to Gozo.

For a family holiday in Gozo, or for those wanting to experience Gozitan rustic tranquillity, Chevron claims to be one of the first travel operators to offer farmhouses on the island. Set in a choice of village locations, these holiday houses can sleep up to nine people. Some of these Gozo vacation homes have been restored to their antiquated charm. All have fully-equipped kitchen and bathroom, weekly maid service, and many also feature a garden and swimming pool. Seven nights in a two-bed farmhouse costs from £394 (Lm245) per person self-catering, based on four adults sharing.

Chevron, represented in Malta by Sultravel, also offers four star bungalows. The Cornucopia bungalows at Xaghra are built into the cliffs, with spectacular views over the Gnien Imrik valley, and are clustered around an outdoor pool. The bungalows cost from £369 (Lm229) for seven nights, including fights and transfers for seven nights self-catering, based on five adults sharing.

The five star Hotel Ta' Cenc at Sannat, meanwhile, is one of the most beautiful and luxurious hotels to stay in on Gozo. With fantastic views across the water to Malta and Comino, and comprising a series of double rooms, suites and detached stone bungalow. Seven nights bed and breakfast at Ta' Cenc starts from £565 (Lm352) per person, including flights and transfers, based on two adults sharing.

UFTAA's Borg Olivier addresses IATA

Geneva, 17/07/06 - Joe Borg Olivier, president of the United Federation of Travel Agents' Associations (UFTAA) was invited to address delegates attending the IATA passenger agency conference held here recently.

"IATA's and UFTAA's collaboration", said Borg Olivier, "goes back to the early sixties and it is still important to maintain the travel and tourism industry at healthy levels.

"I believe," he added, "that running on different tracks is not a healthy situation and that discussion and frank, open consultations between travel agents and airlines, ahead of time, pave the way for a more harmonious environment for both sides".

Borg Olivier expressed his disappointment that IATA had ceased to see UFTAA as an active part of the industry training scheme, and that even the name of UFTAA had been removed from all training material. He also regretted that after longstanding cooperation concerning the IATA/UFTAA ID card, IATA had unilaterally removed the UFTAA logo from the cards.

Accommodation quality audit programme launched

Valletta, 12/07/06 - The Malta Tourism Authority this morning launched a Quality Audit Programme aimed at acknowledging and promoting hotels that meet quality criteria it has established.

Four companies, chosen by the MTA after a public call, will carry out this programme. They are Mejoris, run by Charles Martin; Anthony Gatt's Malta Hotel and Catering Services (MHCS); international auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers; and Joe Caruana's Tuning Fork.

A mystery guest from one of the four companies will undertake the audit - carried out on request by hotels and against payment. The person carrying out the audit will assess a hotel based on criteria established by the MTA. Hotels will need to score a pass in each of the relevant categories to be awarded a quality audit certificate.

The certificate, endorsed by the MTA, will be awarded to hotels that meet the requirements of the scheme. "This will be awarded for a period of up to 12 months, depending on the agreement between the auditing company and the hotel", says the MTA.

This Quality Audit Programme replaces the Hospitality Assured scheme which fell out of favour, a couple of years ago, when hoteliers realized that an annual fee was payable to ensure HA certification. This new scheme is likely to go the same way, an hotelier told Island Travel Trader Online.

"Our overheads are escalating and our income is decreasing - do you really think I'm going to fork out more money every year just to stick a certificate on the lobby wall?"

The Quality Audit Programme, says MTA executive chairman Romwald Lungaro Mifsud, will be more effective and different than Hospitality Assured; it will also be more expensive to operate. Moreover, "it will ensure credibility and accountability", Lungaro Mifsud adds.

Meantime, the special labels programme that was mooted in 2001 and never took off is being revived. These were intended to provide additional information of special features offered by a hotel. It was planned to have 12 special labels in recognition of a property's orientation towards a specific market segment.

The 2006 version of the special labels programme is "still in the embryonic stage", but details are expected to be announced in September.

Meanwhile, minister for tourism and culture Francis Zammit Dimech says that if Malta wants to consolidate its tourism sector and increase arrivals it must improve its tourism product.

The government, he says, is investing heavily in infrastructure, in the embellishment of promenades and beaches, in the restoration and rehabilitation of historic buildings, as well as in the training of all people who work in the hospitality sector.

The Quality Audit Programme is one of the initiatives that the MTA is embarking on to recognise and promote quality and exceptional service at all levels in the tourism industry, the minister adds.

The Quality Audit Programme follows the launching of the Special Thanks And Recognition scheme - STAR. The STAR scheme is divided into two main initiatives - the service brand champion gives public recognition to all those who give exceptional service to tourists, whilst the product brand champion is aimed at acknowledging the tourist product on offer in Malta (see Vote for a public convenience and win a holiday).

Zammit Dimech says the entire tourism product includes not only hotels and restaurants but also the infrastructure and human resources. "If one single link in this chain fails the whole tourism product will suffer", says the minister.

MTA launches free phone information service

Valletta, 12/07/06 - Today sees the launch of the Malta Tourism Authority's customer care free phone service. Its purpose is to provide tourists and residents with a "quick and easy medium through which they can request information and register complaints related to tourism services".

This incentive, says the authority, "will ultimately help the MTA be of better service to the tourist and the Maltese public in general".

That remains to be seen; on its first day of operation one cannot be impressed with the service. Island Travel Trader Online called 80072230 - the free phone number - and asked for the bus route from Valletta to Gnejna Bay. We were told that "according to a map" route 52 from Valletta and 652 from Sliema would take our reporter to Gnejna.

We called the public transport authority to confirm this and were told that there are no buses to Gnejna. "Take the 47 to Mgarr and then walk to the bay", we were told.

The free phone service, meanwhile, operates from Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 12:30 and from 13:15 to 17:00hrs. The call centre is housed at the MTA's information office in Valletta and is manned by two people who handle calls in Maltese and English.

Ryanair slashes Swedish service in response to new taxes

Mosta, 12/07/06 (ATW) - Ryanair will cut its services to and from Sweden by more than half following proposals by the Swedish government to introduce a SEK94 (Lm4.39) ticket tax on European flights and a SEK188 (Lm8.78) levy on long-haul flights beginning 1 August, writes Cathy Buyck.

"The Swedish government is destroying low-fare travel for Swedes and for those people who want to visit this beautiful country by attempting to push up the average cost of Ryanair's fares by over 30 per cent," deputy CEO Michael Cawley said. "The introduction of this tax will make Swedish tourism uncompetitive when compared with cheaper alternatives in Spain, Italy and elsewhere in Europe."

The Irish LCC will cancel its twice-daily Vasteras-London Luton service, reduce its Malmo-Sturup-London Stansted service from twice-daily to daily and reduce its Gothenburg City-Glasgow Prestwick service from five weekly flights to three from 28 October. Last year Ryanair carried more than 2.4 million passengers to and from Sweden.

Airbus redesign leaves gap in Q2 orders

Toulouse, 10/07/06 (Reuters) - Airbus orders dropped by more than half in the first six months of the year as confusion over its product range robbed the company of widebody sales throughout the second quarter, new figures showed on Monday.

The European aircraft maker, which is reeling from production difficulties and a recent management shake-up, said it had sold 117 aircraft between January and June, down from 276 in the same period last year. Deliveries, however, rose to 219 planes from 189.

Airbus has been lagging behind rival Boeing for some months as airlines wait for a relaunch of the long-range twinjet A350, which has been heavily outsold by the Boeing 787.

Airbus received orders for just 21 of these twin-aisle models during the first half, including 13 for the A350 which is being redesigned, meaning the aircraft maker may be forced to renegotiate these deals.

Airbus hopes to launch a new version of the A350 that also addresses slow sales of the four-engine A340 before next week's Farnborough Air Show.

It has not sold any of its widebody aircraft - the A330/340/350 family nor the twice-delayed A380 superjumbo - since March, according to Airbus figures.

Airbus has sold 96 single-aisle aircraft so far this year.

In the nearest available comparison for Boeing first-half sales, the company says it had 480 net orders in 2006 as of 5 July. First-half deliveries stood at 195 jets. In the first half of 2005 Boeing sold 441 aircraft and delivered 155.

Australia changes working holiday visas

Mosta, 10/07/06 (PRWEB) - Significant changes to Australia's popular working holidaymaker visa came into effect on 1 July. The changes give holidaymakers the opportunity to work and study for longer in Australia and the chance to extend their visa for another year by offering an increased selection of seasonal jobs in regional areas.

Working holidaymaker (WHM) visa applications lodged after 1 July are subject to the following changes:
• increased work rights; the ability to work for any one employer for six months, rather than the three previously allowed
• increased study rights; the ability to study for four months, rather than the three previously allowed
• increased selection of seasonal jobs in regional areas; leading to a second working holiday visa of an additional 12 months

"Although the primary group of applicants for this visa are young gap year students, university students and backpackers, in the last 12 months or so we've seen a significant increase in the number of young professionals taking career breaks," said Oonagh Baerveldt, spokesperson Australian Visa Bureau.

"They are frustrated or feeling burnt out and want to take a year out. The WHM visa is a good solution because you don't need to dip into your savings to travel - you work to travel.

"The ability to work in the same job for six months means travellers can choose to be transient or settled whereas before they were looking for a new job every three months," said Baerveldt. "This 'new and improved visa' is ideal for travellers who are looking for a careers change and want to spend some time studying and some time gaining practical experience.

"Anyone interested in taking a year or two out in Australia under the working holidaymaker visa programme should visit http://www.visabureau.com/australia/assessment/workingholiday/default.aspx and complete the WHM online assessment to make sure they meet all of the requirements," said Baerveldt.

Australian working holidaymaker visas are available to passport holders from 11 countries. Visa applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 30 (inclusive), have no dependent children and must be able to support themselves financially for the duration of their trip to Australia.