MHRA pays tribute to tourism pioneer and seasoned politician Robert Arrigo

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) salutes the memory of Robert Arrigo, describing him as a “leading pioneer of the Maltese tourism sector, a champion of local sports, and a conviction politician.”

Mr Arrigo, a key figure in Malta’s tourism sector as founder of Robert Arrigo & Sons and a popular politician with the Nationalist Party, passed away on Tuesday (today) at the age of 67.

MHRA President Tony Zahra commented that significantly, “the Maltese tourism sector has today lost a committed entrepreneur who contributed to shaping up such an important economic sector, the Maltese political scene a savvy politician and the Maltese community a good friend to many.”

Mr Zahra defines Robert Arrigo as someone who had been “born to be a public representative”.

“He was passionate about all the activities he was involved in and up to a week ago was, despite his illness, still meeting MHRA representatives as a PN Shadow Minister for Tourism to discuss ways of how tourism should continue to grow sustainably.”

Indeed, he will be specifically remembered for spearheading in the PN’s April 2021 strategy document “2+8 A Way Forward to Tourism Recovery” – a 100-point plan for the tourism sector which aimed to serve both the immediate and the future needs of the sector. It was immediately evident to MHRA that the ideas generated in this document reflected the knowledge and experience of Robert Arrigo in the tourism sector and will remain relevant and inspirational for the time to come, as part of his legacy.

Mr Zahra further emphasises that “Robert Arrigo faced his illness with dignity and courage and that of all the hats he carried, it will be Robert as a person who many will remember – there when people needed him, both personally and also with his political hat on, and especially with his bravery over the last months, always thinking of others.”

MHRA expresses condolences to the family.