MEP Josianne Cutajar at a co-hosted event with Europe’s umbrella hospitality organisation HOTREC

“Digitalisation, the environmental challenges and recent crises are stark reminders that the tourism industry must continue building resilience”

MEP Josianne Cutajar co-hosted a working event with HOTREC – the umbrella association of national trade associations representing the hotels, restaurants, cafés and similar establishments in Europe, including the Maltese association MHRA, with the theme “The Hospitality of the Future: Resilient, Green and Digital.”

In her remarks, Dr Cutajar observed that when undergoing a touristic experience, an essential part of it is hospitality – an experience that will leave a lasting impression on a tourist visiting a country. This apart from the fact that the hospitality industry amounts to millions of jobs within the EU.

Josianne Cutajar stated that the pandemic, the energy and inflationary crisis, as well as the digital and environmental transitions, are urgent reminders that this sector must continue building up its resilience. Cutajar observed that creating the necessary skills and also having a specific budget line on sustainable tourism is a must in this regard.

On the digital side of things, the MEP stated that tourism was one of the first sectors to digitalise business processes on a global scale, bringing flight and hotel bookings online. “We now must assist our hospitality sector to make the most out of emerging technologies such as AI and metaverse. I am, therefore, proud to say that the Path to the Digital Decade Programme for 2030, which has been voted upon by plenary last week, and on which I worked as Shadow Rapporteur for the Socialists, will assist in reaching important digital targets within the EU, targets which will also be of benefit to the tourism industry”, Dr Josianne Cutajar concluded.