Hospitality Malta HM03 | Page 65

booked outgoing packages through licensed operators will be refund- ed in case one of the companies goes bankrupt. The Fund, which is administered by a special Man- aging Board set up by the Ministry for Tourism, the Malta Tourism Authority and FATTA, will pro- vide a level of peace of mind for the travelling public which just did not exist to date. Gozo remains top on our agen- da. As we near the first anniversary since the dramatic collapse of the Azure Window in Dwejra robbed us of one of our most cherished na- tional icons, we have doubled our efforts to promote the sister island’s numerous other attractions and the unique authentic experience that it offers. Judging by the performance of the past few months, we are con- fident that with the active support of the Gozitan stakeholders, with the Gozo Tourism Association foremost amongst them, we shall continue to attract an increasing number of vis- itors to the island. When it comes to conferences and meetings, the MTA’s main objec- tives for the coming twelve months are to target the US market as it is the cradle of associations, to con- tinue promoting Malta for asso- ciation events and to raise more brand awareness. In fact we will invest in attending IMEX USA trade show, offering a number of opportunities for Maltese stake- holders to participate. HOSPITALITY MALTA Faith-Based Tourism is one of the niche markets which is being developed further. Travellers were now looking for accommodation that resembled a ‘home-from-home’ environment with service In conclusion, there is no doubt that 2018 will be an exciting one for our hospitality industry. Our role as MTA is to ensure that we maintain the momentum that we have built in the past in order to maximise the positive outcomes derived from the growth in vol- umes, whilst minimising any po- tential side effects. Together we need to ensure that each one of our 2 million plus guests receives the same level of service, attention and hospitality as if he or she were the first and only visitor, and is made to feel truly special. This is the only approach that can guar- antee that the tourism tree that is firmly rooted in Malta continues to bear fruit. Issue 03 63