What are the Structural Funds allocations for tourism?
Tourism has been allotted around 8 million euros in Structural Funds; these will fund projects which have been identified and refined (through a wide ranging consultation process) during the last twenty four months. These allocations have to be apportioned to projects which will be selected following a submission and evaluation process by the Managing Authority of the Structural Funds (www.ppcd.gov.mt).
The culmination of the preparatory work came with the finalisation of the first draft of the Single Programming Document (SPD) in Quarter 2 of 2003, and the accompanying Programme Compliment for the SPD (Quarter 4).
MTA has been contributing its input in relation to three measures, namely,
(a) projects of assistance to tourism enterprises; (b) upgrading of tourism human resources through projects for training and HR development; and (c) upgrading of Malta’s cultural heritage and projects for the upgrading of tourism infrastructure. Details of each measure are provided below. All of these project proposals are still subject to final approval by the Projects Selection Committee and the Managing Authority.
1. Grant scheme for tourism enterprises
This measure aims at improving the quality of the physical product being offered by tourism related enterprises which may also require assistance in marketing. The areas of intervention of the support include environmental initiatives, cultural heritage projects, accessibility for travellers with mobility problems, equipment for a better provision of service, upgrading the quality of facilities and marketing initiatives. Accommodation and catering establishments, travel operators, diving operators, English language schools, private tourism training institutes and private museums and tourism attractions may benefit from this measure.
2. Training schemes for people in the industry
Provision of tourism service training schemes aimed at the improvement of service culture through provision of multi-media packages, good practice fora, and a number of specific training schemes for tourism SMEs, transport and support service operators.
3. Support to tourism sector
The actions under this measure are aimed at upgrading the tourism industry in terms of the quality of the service provided and the product offered. The upgrading of the rural and urban landscape, conservation and upgrading of cultural sites, setting up of information offices and interpretation facilities at key sites are all eligible for funding under this measure. This and all the above actions are all in line with the objectives of the key national policy document in this sector, namely, The Carrying Capacity Assessment for the Maltese Islands (Tourism Development Policies 2000 – 2010).
Further information on the proposed Grant Scheme for Tourism Enterprises:
Ÿ Projects will be co-funded with European Funds (35% of project value) and Government of Malta Funds (25% of project value); a maximum of EUR100,000 in state aid (EU + Government funds) is allowed under the Scheme, in conformity with State Aid Regulations. Applicant enterprises will contribute the remaining 40% of costs eligible for funding.
· All serviced accommodation and catering establishments, diving operations, English Language Schools, private tourism training institutes, tourism attractions, private museums, DMCs and incoming agents are eligible for assistance from the Scheme.
Further information on the European Social Fund Training Schemes:
· Tourism and support services employees and enterprises eligible for participating in the ESF training schemes include: owner/managers and operational staff at accommodation and catering establishments; English language schools, diving operations, and travel operators.
· Specific programmes will be launched targeting the training needs of small and independent enterprises.
· Support services in the areas of transport provision (private coach drivers, public bus drivers, taxi drivers, karozzini drivers) and non-tourism operations (operational staff in the retail sector, public sector frontliners) are eligible for specific programmes.
Information about all tourism European funding in Malta will be available online shortly (site under construction) on www.mtasf.com
Information on the European Social Fund and related areas can be found at http://www.esf.gov.mt
For additional information one can contact:
Mr Caldon Mercieca
Strategic Planning & Research Division
Tel: 22915704
Email: caldon.mercieca@visitmalta.com
Ms Marie Louise Mangion
Strategic Planning & Research Division
Tel: 22915700
Email: mlmangion@visitmalta.com
Ms Tania Sultana
Strategic Planning & Research Division
Tel: 22915702
Email: tania.sultana@visitmalta.com
