VALLETTA, Malta – Malta’s tourism industry is to continue benefiting in the seven years to come from EU funds after the government insisted with the European Commission on the importance of the country’s tourism sector, and which was acknowledged by the Commission.
This was announced by Parliamentary Secretary Ian Borg this morning during discussions held at the ministry with the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association representatives, including its president, Paul Bugeja, where opportunities related to the tourism sector in terms of EU funds were the highlight of the discussions.
In the upcoming seven years (2014-2020), Malta will have the opportunity to benefit from funding under the European Structural and Investments Funds, covering European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), European Social Fund (ESF), Cohesion Fund (CF), European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). These funds will be instrumental to foster the right environment for economic growth, job creation, technological development, productivity, a higher standard of living and a more inclusive society.
The main priorities of the commission are namely, IT, energy, SMEs competitiveness enhancement.
Dr Borg explained that interventions in this sector, a sector which witnessed a record year in 2013, would take place “horizontally”, meaning that tourism sector enterprises will benefit from various schemes financed by the EU and created by the government, including funds distributed towards investments which fall under the information technology, the environment (including the use of cleaner methods of energy and water and sewage treatments), and research and training structural funds.
He said that the government will continue to create schemes for employers to benefit from but will also continue to finance part of the salaries of disadvantaged employees.
