30/03/2013

Muscat makes no apology for insensitive tourism comments - timesofmalta.com

Tuesday, February 1, 2011 by Christian Peregin

Muscat makes no apology for insensitive tourism comments

A mock marketing campaign circulated on Facebook yesterday poking fun at the insensitive comments made by Labour leader Joseph Muscat, who called for the touristic exploitation of the revolutions in north Africa.

Labour leader Joseph Muscat made no apologies yesterday after he called on the tourism authorities to exploit the revolutions in neighbouring Tunisia and Egypt. His comments, made on Sunday during a Labour conference, were denounced by Foreign Affairs Minister Tonio Borg and Alternattiva Demokratika and mocked on Facebook where an anonymous satirist juxtaposed violent scenes in North Africa with Visit Malta slogans. But a spokesman for Dr Muscat said: The Opposition leaders comments are aimed at the best interest of our country and we have no apologies to make for putting our families interests first. On the other hand, Dr Borg slammed the insensitive and immature comments which betrayed Dr Muscats inexperience. He said the instability in the region could actually have a negative impact on Malta, though if the developments resulted in democracy, freedom and tolerance, these would be positive and historic. Dr Borg added that our thoughts should not be about how to profit but how to help, without being paternalistic, those countries undergoing reform. Meanwhile, Alternattiva Demo kratika said linking turmoil to tourism was cynical, silly, disrespectful and shows a lack of political savoir faire. AD international spokesman Arnold Cassola said it was unbelievable and shameful for Dr Muscat to only think of exploiting the suffering and misery of Maltas north African neighbours in the face of historic world-changing events. Asked for his reaction, Tourism Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco pointed towards a misjudgement of the way tourism works. Tourism does not flourish through the misfortunes of others but when there is a sense of stability in the region. Instability in the region only means people will think twice before travelling. Some might shift plans, he acknowledged, but others may just put their plans on hold. He added that the Tunisian and Egyptian markets were primarily based on tour operators, so a simple marketing campaign would not leave much of an impact. Having said that, we are always in touch with tour operators, Dr de Marco added, indicating that in some way Malta could already be taking on some packages previously planned for Egypt and Tunisia. Replying to questions in a radio phone-in early last week, Dr de Marco denied claims Malta was not looking into how to attract tourists who were cancelling holidays to Tunisia. He said Malta regretted the unrest but said major tour operators had already re-directed three planeloads of tourists to Malta from the UK.

22 Comments
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Muscat makes no apology for insensitive tourism comments - timesofmalta.com

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Peter Borg
Feb 2nd 2011, 21:59 Insensitiv l-EU Council, kollhom stqarrijiet u paroli u xejn azzjoni, imbghad niftahru b'solidarjeta u s-subsidjarita, tghidx kemm hawn min dawn solidarjeta ma kullhadd imbarra ma nfusna u subsidjarita zero ghax kif jaghmel hadd iehor ( li jkun negattiv) rridu noqghodu u xi haga possitiva nibqghu nittewbu, bla bla bla dawk zgur u mela min qal biex niehdu l-okazzjoni u ngibu t-turisti l'hawn , mhux terroristi ntalbu ta turisti ha jonfqu xi haga u jerfghu ftit l-ekonomija stagnata li hawn

Mike Magri
Feb 2nd 2011, 15:20 To GonziPN & Co...... Dr. Joseph Muscat said absolutely NOTHING wrong or disgracefull to Anybody.. It is just the GonziPN`s Filthy `Spinning Orchestra` which is trying to, Unsuccessfully i say, create a storm in a tea cup..!! After all, what Dr. Muscat said, he said it with all honesty, professionalism, political maturity and responsibility because in Unfortunate instances like these, YESSSS, That IS what actualy happens in the tourism industry ALL OVER THE WORLD.. SO LET`S STOP ACTING LIKE A BUNCH OF POLITICAL HYPOCRITES, WILL YOU.....!!!! Thanks Dr. Muscat and just keep up the good work.....

Joe Busuttil
Feb 2nd 2011, 13:56 @Debono and Hobson. You missed the whole point of the comment. The emphasis was on the word 'insensitive.'

Joseph Masini
Feb 2nd 2011, 08:48 I really can't understand what's the fuss about Dr. Muscat's comments. Last week at school we were given a lecture on tourism in which, amongst others, we were told of how Malta could benefit from natural disasters and political unrests by embarking on special campaigns. As far as I know, Dr. Muscat didn't pray for more unrests but just stated that we should try to route passengers to Malta. Or are our schools teaching us wrong now???!!!

Raymond Sammut
Feb 2nd 2011, 00:01 @ Tommy Cassar Free trade, fairly conducted, is about the economic efficiency in the exchange of resources among the nations of the world. The "your death, my life" principle, on the other hand, is Machiavellian and grossly abhorrent because it is anathema to good economics that requires benefit for each individual from the sum benefit of the group. The reason why Dr Muscat's comments are disconcerting is because Dr Muscat presents himself as the alternative Prime Minister. No-one else in Malta presently is in that privileged position. If you are suggesting that Dr Muscat is presenting himself as the future Machiavellian PM, then surely Dr Muscat is on a losing wicket. It is hard to imagine how Dr Muscat would not be regretting his petty "slip-of-the-tongue" comments --given his privileged position and given the perception of him both by the Maltese people and by foreign leaders.

E. Azzopardi
Feb 1st 2011, 19:56 I am convinced that he is absolutely right. The MTA and MHRA should have started to work on this from day one. Our hotels should be enjoying good occupancies and even giving special rates and offers, this would mean decreasing your losses during these months, which eventually will increase your profits. Can't we even attract 0.5% of tourists who were going to Tunisia and Eygpt? Fis sajf kullhadd bravu!!

Raymond Camilleri
Feb 1st 2011, 19:27

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Muscat makes no apology for insensitive tourism comments - timesofmalta.com

Francis Buhagiar... can you repeat please... what do 'we' pretend? (sic)!!!!... x'tippretendu nahseb hux trid tfisser!? lol

A. Mizzi
Feb 1st 2011, 17:11 Interest makes some people blind, and others quick-sighted especially if it's National Interest and one of the prime attributes of Malta that should be marketed is a peaceful and pleasant destination free from political turmoil? . Wasn't Malta marketed for its good weather when the rest of Europe was frozen over, is that exploitation as well? Hadd ma jghidlekk ahsel wiccek biex tkun ahjar minn haddiehor !

Francis Buhagiar
Feb 1st 2011, 16:39 Had any body asked Birdlife Malta for an apology when they urged tourists not to come to Malta, harming our tourism industry and risking the jobs of hundreds of Maltese epopees. You are nothing but a bunch of hypocrites you pretend an apology from the LP but not from your dear friends.

V Falzon
Feb 1st 2011, 17:33 F. Buhagiar, I challenge you to cite me one single case, sentence or word, where BirdLife has urged foreigners not to come to Malta. Come on now, be a man and substantiate your claims. One single reference is what I ask.

l fenech
Feb 1st 2011, 16:39 Mhux xorta skond Demarco it-turisti kollha gejjiln hawn.

john camilleri
Feb 1st 2011, 14:10 Joey is right, we should exploit at, at least, in secret. We're all deep down hoping the Egyptians rise up and defeat their president without bloodshed, but secretly we all want a stronger economy, and that money isn't going to come from the government's financial planning. capitalism 101 sinjuri, we aren't living in the star trek universe yet.

Joe Busuttil
Feb 1st 2011, 14:02 Tonio Borg ,he who heard Justyne say "Nay",describes Joseph's comments as 'insensitive .' You know when comments are insensitive Tonio? They are insensitive when your Gonzi PN says "Se nivvota bil-qalb" one ,twice and more when voting for higher utility bills.

M.Debono
Feb 1st 2011, 16:04 Give us a guarantee OPEC will slash oil prices by half the day JM is prime minister & I'll vote lejber. Happy dreaming...

Pat Hobson
Feb 1st 2011, 17:57 Ask your party in government to slash by 50% the tax on fuel and I'll gladly vote PN next time around!!!!

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Muscat makes no apology for insensitive tourism comments - timesofmalta.com

P.Cassar
Feb 1st 2011, 14:02 THE VERY LAST SENTENCE IN THE ARTICLE EXPOSES THE SANITY OF JOSEPH'S COMMENT AND THE 'UNREALITY' OF THE OTHER COMMENTATORS/PN BLOGGERS.

C.Camilleri
Feb 1st 2011, 13:15 Hear hear. Well Dr.Demarco anticipated what Joseph Muscat suggested regarding tourism to Malta, in the present scenario of unrest in Tunisia and Egypt. Another PN spin gone with the wind.

DVella
Feb 1st 2011, 13:00 'No apology' huh?? Now where have we heard THAT before . . . . ? (!)

Tommy Cassar
Feb 1st 2011, 12:18 Do those who criticized Dr Muscat and who are promoters of free trade and unbridled capitalism know about the commercial saying Mors tua vitae mia?

Raymond Sammut
Feb 1st 2011, 12:15 Dr Muscat could be heading for a tour operator job at the rate he is going with the comments he has made. Not only the comments were "insensitive", but they were totally out of character and not worthy of an aspiring prime minister. One would have thought that Dr Muscat would by now be way above of what tour operators do on a day-to-day basis. He has clearly exposed himself on how much he underestimates the potential ramifications of the unrest in the two countries --especially in Egypt which controls the SC. From a potential future PM of Malta, nothing less was expected than a unequivocal and genuine expression of concern for the two neighbouring countries. And of course he makes no apology. Apology to whom? Who is asking for it? Not after the colt has bolted.

victor caruana
Feb 1st 2011, 10:09 The minister is naive!

John Montague
Feb 1st 2011, 09:42 Tourism is not for the weak-hearted or apologetic wimps. Would-be Tunisian and Egyptian tourists need to be catered for. If Malta does not step in, another destination wins - it's that simple. Dr Muscat is absolutely correct in his approach. As for a "negative impact on Malta". Why? Thanks to the Knights of St John, whose remains we treasure with the utmost devotion, we are not Muslims led by a dictator. The choice is such circumstances is clear - stand up and be counted, or lose! We have already been through similar circumstances in the past. I do not recall any political party objecting to direct advertising in not-dissimilar circumstances, when Malta gained most globally. The writing is on the wall.

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