PRESS RELEASE *** PRESS RELEASE ***PRESS RELEASE*** PRESS RELEASE
Date27th to 28th July 2016
To: All Media
Release:Immediately
Mediterranean Tourism Foundation – First Board of Governors meeting
Following the launch of the Mediterranean Tourism Foundation (MTF) on the 4th December 2015, the newly appointed Administrative Council held their first meeting on Wednesday 27th July 2016 at the Radisson St Julians Hotel, Malta. The Council members include; Mr. Tony Zahra MTF President, Dr. Barbaros Kon, Dr. Tijani Haddad, Mr. Hamid Bentahar, Dr. Hisham Zaazou, Mr Andrew Agius Muscat MTF Secretary General, Mr Roberto Necci, Mr. Naufel Bahloul, Mr. Mostafa Selal and Ms. Veronique Martens
In his welcome address MTF President Mr Tony Zahra stated that the foundation is inspired by the shared will of stakeholders from both public and private tourism sector to revitalise efforts to transform the Mediterranean into an area of peace, cooperation and prosperity by investing and promoting tourism. During the meeting it was established that the next Mediterranean Tourism Forum will be held in Malta and will be addressing best practices as to how to improve turnover for operators in the Mediterranean tourism sector. It was also agreed that the Council members will be in the coming months creating the structure for membership to include both private and public sector representatives both from a corporate and individual level.
During the following day a courtesy meeting was held with theMinister for Foreign Affairs Dr George Vella. Minister Vella commended the MTF initiative and pledged support by the Maltese government as he highlighted that tourism could play a key role in promoting peace and stability across the Mediterranean.
Another courtesy meeting was held with the Minister of Tourism Dr Edward Zammit Lewis and the Prime Minister of Malta Dr Joseph Muscat. MTF Deputy President Dr Tijani Haddad formally thanked the Government of Malta for being the first to support the scope and objectives of the foundation. MTF Governor Dr Hishaam Zazou then presented the MTF 30 points Manifesto to the Prime Minister of Malta. The Prime Minister asserted that he will do his utmost to promote the identified points not only through the Maltese Government structures and policies but significantly also across the EU institutions in particular during the term of Malta’s Presidency of the EU council in 2017.
Another meeting was held with the Minister without Portfolio Dr. Konrad Mizzi during which matters related to the importance of energy consumption by the tourism sector and its implicated multiplier effect where discussed. In this light it was agreed that the Government of Malta will collaborate with MTF to organise in Malta the EuroMed meeting for energy efficiency next year.
For more information please contact the secretariat of the Mediterranean Tourism Foundation on 2131 8133/4 or visit and