Karmenu Vella on why we should vote against EU membership to save tourism
The two Karmenus, being carried shoulder high by the mad and irresponsible people who brought ruin to Malta with their stupid and insane political choices
Karmenu Vella, interviewed by Business Today on 29 August 2001:
Regarding the affect the EU has on tourism, he believes that it is very important to look at the EU with a more sober approach that bears Malta’s political and economic interests in mind.
“There is no direct correlation between EU membership and guaranteed tourism growth.
“As a matter of fact, there are many non-EU countries within Europe with higher tourism rates than other EU countries.
“Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Switzerland are all performing much better than Germany, Ireland, Greece, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Luxembourg, Belgium and Holland. Another case in point is that fact that, although Sicily has been an EU member for over 40 years, its tourism rates lower than Malta’s. So it’s very misleading to relate full EU membership directly with tourism growth.”
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Sicily is not a member of the EU. Has he nothing to say about tourism in Italy?
It is by virtue of its being part of Italy. However, that is not the point.
The point is that Sicily’s case is sui generis and one cannot really consider Sicily in such an exercise because with its particular characteristics including its being part of Italy, its perceived high crime rates, its perceived danger and at the time, it had poor infrastructure (generally speaking) it cannot be considered as a normal holiday destination.
Of course, nowadays the situation is different because for me Sicily is one of the best destinations in the world. However, the reality is that to compare Sicily to other destinations is incorrect and silly, particularly in 2001.
Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary ARE members of the EU.
[Daphne – They were not, at the time, in 2001.]
oops!
Another of Karmenu’s predictions which turned out to be exactly the opposite.
Record year after record year even in times of recessions.
If Labour’s policies are as successful as their predictions, then it’s time to redouble our efforts to keep the clowns out.
Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary were much cheaper to visit.
Sicily had been ignored by the Italian government and not much investment was made on tourism. That is why it was not that popular as a tourist destination.
Maybe Saviour can make it a point and ask him about his current views regarding EU membership and his lack of apparent foresight.
Why doesn’t he open an Orange agency in Sicily as well? The red ones make plenty of juice.