TERMS OF REFERENCE Note: Where in this document a standard is quoted, it is to be understood that the Contracting Authority will accept equivalent standards. However, it will be the responsibility of the respective bidders to prove that the standards they quoted are equivalent to the standards requested by the Contracting Authority. 1. Background Information 1.1 - Beneficiary Country Malta 1.2 - Contracting Authority Malta Tourism Authority 1.3 - Relevant Country Background The Maltese Islands are located 93km south of Sicily (Italy) and 290km from the north coast of Africa. Tourism is a standing pillar of the Maltese economy and the strategic importance of this sector cannot but be over-emphasised. The tourism sector provides direct employment for a vast number of people within the country as well as indirect employment. This is in addition to the wealth this sector generates. The importance of strengthening the Maltese tourism product has been high on the national agenda whereby a lot of resources have been directed to regenerate the tourism sector and the positive results achieved over the years encourage further growth within the sector. 1.4 - Current State of Affairs in the Relevant Sector In Malta there are three main tourism zones, these being: - the northern zone consisting of the Qawra/Bugibba/St.Paul s Bay/Mellieha territory; - the central zone consisting of the Sliema/St.Julians area; and - the southern zone consisting of the tourism resorts such as M Scala & M Xlokk. These tourism zones couple with that in Gozo, provide a good product mix for tourists visiting the Maltese islands. However, there is a conscious realization for the need to provide a diversified tourism product which provides an enhanced tourism experience for visitors by focusing on a higher quality general tourism product coupled with dedicated investment in specific niche areas. In fact it is acknowledged that within the tourism industry context Malta is operating in a very competitive environment with competition being faced from emerging as well as long haul destinations. Apart from adapting to factors affecting the core sun and sea segment, Malta is consciously opting to diversity its tourism offering to reduce this dependency whilst at the same time promoting other segments. Important initiatives that have a bearing on the tourism product are infrastructural projects that enhance Malta s tourism potential. Projects such as the embellishment of popular and/or historic sites and similar initiatives all make the product offered by Malta a more refined one. Thus, the Malta Tourism
Authority has carried out infrastructural interventions that sought to diversify and enhance the tourism product offer. 1.5 - Related Programmes and Donor Activities The investment carried out consists of the embellishment of the coastal walkway in St. Paul s Bay in the area known as ta l Ghazzellin where people can enjoy walks along the beautiful coastal way as well as sit and relax whilst enjoying views of the open sea and St. Paul s islands. The investment carried out in the location of St. Paul s Bay was co-financed by the European Commission and the Government of Malta through the European Regional Development Fund under the Cohesion Policy 2007-2013, Operational Programme I. 2. Contract Objectives and Expected Results 2.1 - Overall Objectives The overall objectives of the embellishment works carried at St. Paul s Bay project are as follows: To upgrade the tourism product and improve the public perception of these important tourist zones To provide facilities that will further enhance the attractiveness of these tourism zones. The image of a tourism resort is one of the important aspects of a resort which determines how many people visit the area. The treatment of urban spaces has a strong impact on the image that a tourism resort portrays. The St. Paul s Bay project component sought to enhance the image and public perception related to the area concerned. The project aimed for quality in design and finishes, provided for spaces which people can enjoy and from where people can also enjoy open views. The experience of the earmarked spaces determines the perception that the visitors have of this area. The provision of a sizeable coastal walkway with open views in an area which is currently viewed as overdeveloped, seeks to shift the image to a tourism resort where people can enjoy open spaces and views thus, the image of the area is changed into a positive one which offers potential of repeat visitors. The objective was that a well thought-out development acts as catalyst to the change in image. The improved image of the location together with the introduction of new facilities falling within the remit of this project are assets which the Beneficiary utilises in its marketing and promotional campaigns to enhance Malta s image and competitiveness. 2.2 - Specific Objectives The objectives of this contract [which are not necessarily those of the project] are as follows: 1. Gauge the number of tourists present within the facility; and 2. To carry out an attitudinal survey now that the embellishment works for the coastal walkway of St. Paul s Bay have been completed, with a view to assess the
satisfaction rate of tourist, based on the tourists rating of the facility. This contract is meant to assess the number of tourists presence within the facility and the current satisfaction of these tourists in relation to the facility. 2.3 - Results to be achieved by the Contractor A report presenting the findings and weighting of the attitudinal satisfaction survey and the number of tourists frequenting the facility. 3. Assumptions and Risks 3.1 - Assumptions Underlying the Project Intervention Data gathering and the survey will be completed within the stipulated implementation schedule. 3.2 Risks Surveyed people will not cooperate and thus the process to survey the required sample population will be lengthened. 4. Scope of the Work 4.1 General 4.1.1 Project Description The location of the coastal walkway at St. Paul s Bay is being indicated on the site map attached as Annex I. The scope of the works is twofold: i. Data gathering on the number of foreigner visitors frequenting the site; and ii. Survey the tourists frequenting the site in order to gauge the tourists satisfaction with the facility. The survey shall be carried out by on-the field interviews and shall be carried out primarily in English however conducting the services in other EU official language/s will be deemed to be an asset. The cost of translating the surveys into such languages will be bourn by the contractor. All the results shall however be presented in English. 4.1.2 Geographical Area to be covered Coastal Walkway at St. Paul s Bay as earmarked on the site map provided in Annex I. 4.1.3 Target Group The sample population should amount to no less than 500 valid responses and shall reflect
the satisfaction of tourists utilizing the coastal walkway at St. Paul s Bay. The representative sample must have a 95% confidence interval. The allowable margin of error is +/-3%. To be eligible to take part in the survey the respondents shall be 18 years or older and shall have frequented the coastal walkway at St. Paul s Bay. 4.2 - Specific Activities 1. Inception Report for Tourist Satisfaction Survey Executive summary; Description of tasks to be carried out by the key experts; Description of tasks to be carried out by other personnel; List any inputs required from the Contracting Authority; Review the Questionnaire proposed by the Contracting Authority in Appendix II and list recommendations of suggested amendments which the contractor may deem to be useful. The Contracting Authority reserves the right to disregard such recommendations; Propose and describe the survey methodology to be adopted and confirm the sample size to be carried out; Programme of Works highlighting the timeframes up to the end of the contract; and Envisaged Risks to the implementation of this contract. 2. Data Gathering The surveyors are to approach the foreign visitors to the site and take note of the size of the travelling party and the place of origin of the foreign visitors. Gather an estimate account of the number of foreign vistors visiting the coastal walkway at St. Paul s Bay; 3. Tourist Satisfaction Survey It is envisaged that the successful bidder will: Agree with the Contracting Authority on any amendments required to the questionnaire as pointed out in Point 1 above (Inception Report); Agree with the Contracting Authority on survey methodology to be adopted; Test the questionnaire, carry out a pilot survey and recommend to the Contracting Authority any revisions deemed to be required; Carry out the interviews on the field; Evaluate and compile the results; Provide feedback to the Contracting Authority on the sample design, fieldwork procedures, the questionnaire, the data management and weighting of the survey; and Provide the Contracting Authority with a written report on the results of the Tourists Satisfaction Survey. The data collection methodology shall be based on computer-assisted interviewing.
4.3 - Project Management 4.3.1 Responsible Body The Product Development Directorate within the Malta Tourism Authority will be responsible for managing this Contract. The contractor will report to the Project Leader or his appointed representative. 4.3.2 Management Structure In every case the Contractor shall obtain approval, in writing by the Project Leader or his representative, before exercising any authority for which he is required to obtain prior authorization. Furthermore he will not be entitled to make decisions on extensions of time stages and time required under the contract. 4.3.3 Facilities to be provided by the Contracting Authority and/or other parties The Contractor will need to provide for his own facilities during the term provided by the Contract. The Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) as the Contracting Authority will make the following documentation available to the appointed Contractor: The site map indicating the location of the coastal walkway at St. Paul s Bay; and The proposed questionnaire to be utilised when conducting the satisfaction survey. 5. Logistics and Timing 5.1 Location The location of the project is as described in Clause 4.1 of these Terms of Reference. 5.2 - Commencement Date & Period of Execution The intended commencement date shall be within 2 calendar days from the engagement letter. The period of execution of the contract shall be as follows: 1. Draft inception report to be submitted within 7 calendar days from commencement date; 2. All tasks related to the Satisfaction Survey must commence within 3 calendar days from approval of the inception report and the surveys must be carried out over the remaining summer season, autumn and winter up to 15 th January 2016; 3. A draft final report gathering collectively the data gathered must be submitted by no later than 25 th January 2016. The report will be approved by the Contracting Authority.
6. Requirements 6.1 Personnel 6.1.1 Other Experts CVs for experts other than the key experts, are not examined prior to the signature of the contract. They should not have been included in the submission. The Contractor shall select and hire other experts as required according to the profiles identified in the company s Organisation & Methodology and these Terms of Reference. For the purposes of this contract, international experts are considered to be those whose permanent residence is outside the beneficiary country while local experts are considered to be those whose permanent residence is in the beneficiary country. The Conractor should pay attention to the need to ensure the active participation of local professional skills where available, and a suitable mix of international and local staff in the project team. All experts must be independent and free from conflicts of interest in the responsibilities accorded to them. 6.1.2 Support Staff and Backstopping The Contractor is required to provide all the required support staff including facilities and resources. The costs of support staff, including interviewers, shall be included in the global sum. 6.2 - Facilities to be provided by the Contractor The Contractor shall ensure that experts are adequately supported and equipped to carry out the Tourists Satisfaction Survey. In particular it shall ensure that there is sufficient administrative, secretarial and interpreting provision to enable experts to concentrate on their primary responsibilities. It must also transfer funds as necessary to support its activities under the contract and to ensure that its employees are paid regularly and in a timely fashion. All costs are to be included under the global fee of the contract, including: - Travelling and transport costs; - Communication costs; - Printing, publishing and publicity costs; and - Remuneration for personnel for carrying out surveys and interviews. If the Contractor is a consortium, the arrangements should allow for the maximum flexibility in project implementation. Arrangements offering each consortium partner a fixed percentage of the work to be undertaken under the contract should be avoided. 7. Reports
7.1 - Submission & approval of reports The inception report must be submitted within 7 days from commencement as per Article 5.2 of these Terms of Reference. The draft final report must be submitted to the Project Leader identified in the contract within 10 calendar days from completion of the survey. The report must be written in English. The Project Leader is responsible for approving the final report. Once approved, the Contractor will submit two final original copies and a soft copy. 8. Monitoring and Evaluation 8.1 - Definition of Indicators The main indicators of evaluation will be time and the attainability of the objectives set by the contracting authority. Key indicators: Tourists Satisfaction Survey: Data Gathering is completed; On site interviews are carried out; and Tourists Satisfaction Survey is completed. 8.2 - Special Requirements Not Applicable