| Frequent incidents of tourists being confronted in | | | | the companies found breaking the rules and taking |
| the street while on holiday in the Mediterranean | | | | the money out of the deposited bond money, |
| has led to Malta taking action against the | | | | with the timeshare companies having to make it |
| timeshare companies who employ sales staff to | | | | up immediately to the required amount. |
| seek out possible visiting buyers. | | | | Hotels In Malta |
| Complaints have risen in recent years from | | | | YourMalta say they welcome the stance the |
| holiday makers who have had their time on the | | | | Malta Tourist Authority are taking to protect the |
| island spoiled by being approached on a daily basis | | | | visitors to the island, and cite recent examples of |
| to attend presentations - that can last up to four | | | | why action has become necessary. |
| hours -in the hope that some will buy into holiday | | | | In two recent cases, British tourists have been |
| property ownership and timeshares. | | | | targetted, by young male and female timeshare |
| But the Malta tourist authorities have seen the | | | | reps, and while some were based outside hotels in |
| damage it is doing to the island's economy, and | | | | Malta others were driving around in cars and |
| have decided to act. | | | | stopping tourists as though they were going to |
| 'It has come to the stage in Malta', comments | | | | ask for directions pointing to a map of Malta |
| Roger Munns of Malta travel guide YourMalta, 'that | | | | before delivering their sales pitch, with some more |
| some holiday makers are being approached on a | | | | persistent than others. |
| daily basis - sometimes twice a day - by | | | | The timeshare reps are predominantly from the |
| timeshare touts who get paid a commission for | | | | UK and targetting UK tourists who visit the island |
| every potential buyer they persuade to take to a | | | | for the good weather in Malta, and the UK is a |
| presentation. As well as the feeling of not being | | | | main market for Malta. On occasions the British |
| able to go out without being accosted by these | | | | tourists have had to resort to threaten violence |
| people some were giving verbal abuse to those | | | | to be left in peace, with the timeshare reps |
| who declined, or simply followed them down the | | | | retorting that they were only trying to make a |
| street after being told no - and hounding tourists'. | | | | living. |
| With the tourism market vital to the Malta | | | | 'In truth', comment YourMalta, 'While the |
| economy, the Malta Tourist Authority recognised | | | | timeshare reps are trying to make commission, |
| that some visitors would be so put off the island | | | | for every penny they earn they could be losing |
| by high pressure sales people that they wouldn't | | | | the Malta economy far more with every |
| return - potentially losing Malta millions in lost | | | | approach they make as the tourists soon get fed |
| revenue from repeat visitors. | | | | up with the persistent efforts to sell them |
| 'In today's world,' explain YourMalta, 'Malta has to | | | | something they don't want. Those tourists are |
| compete with new destinations in Europe as well | | | | sometimes having their whole holiday spoiled and |
| as Spain and her islands. Cheap Malta flights aren't | | | | are less likely to return. |
| in themselves enough to sustain tourism at | | | | The last thing the island needs is for tourists to |
| reasonable levels anymore, although this will be | | | | step off their Air Malta flight to be accosted |
| welcome, but the trick of sustained tourism is to | | | | before they even reach their hotel with a sales |
| have repeat business, and timeshare touts | | | | pitch that reminds them of double glazing |
| bothering visitors to the island are enough in some | | | | salesmen back home. The Malta Tourist Authority |
| cases to make sure that repeat visits don't | | | | tell us they will come down on any culprits like a |
| happen.' | | | | ton of bricks. |
| The legislation the tourist authorities needed to be | | | | We welcome the pro-active stance taken by the |
| able to protect the tourists has recently been | | | | Malta Tourist Authority to protect the British |
| passed, and the Malta Tourist Authority is planning | | | | visitor and to ensure that they can enjoy their |
| to outsource security patrols to police the | | | | holiday, which will hopefully be the first of many |
| timeshare touts. And in a clever move designed | | | | to Malta. The Malta Tourist Authority is to be |
| to enforce the legislation effectively, the Malta | | | | commended for not only recognising the problem, |
| Tourist Authority are being paid around 3000 | | | | but taking action to ensure the Maltese economy |
| Euros for each rep the timeshare companies | | | | doesn't lose millions in lost revenue from unhappy |
| employ for a bond that will allow them to work in | | | | Brits who might otherwise take their spending |
| a regulated way. Instead of waiting to take each | | | | money elsewhere in the future'. |
| incident through the courts the MTA will be fining | | | | Time alone will tell if Malta can protect her visitors. |