The economic impact of tourism in Malta

Abstract

The study on the impact of tourism on Malta's economy is a landmark initiative on many counts. Tourism is an activity in which practically everybody in Malta participates. However, there is no doubt that there exists a lack of appreciation of its importance for the economic well-being of these Islands. Moreover, although publicly available economic data have provided indications, albeit indirectly, with regards to the size, sustained growth and the capacity of the industry to generate employment, none of this "evidence" could be termed as being conclusive, or as doing justice to the enormous potential of the industry. This study, as Minister for Tourism Dr Michael Refalo so rightly stated during its launch in July 1999, "bestows on tourism the unassailable strength of certainty which was so lacking before." The findings of this study will be an important tool for the Malta Tourism Authority in its efforts to put the case for tourism before all sectors of Maltese society. I am proud of the fact that the authors of this study- much lauded for its scientific content and practical approach - today form part of the MTA's management team. It is to the credit of Dr Michael Refalo and the Authority's predecessor, the National Tourism Organisation - Malta, that Maltese professionals were given the encouragement and the opportunity to embark on a project of such importance. [Foreword]