Robert Arrigo, a key figure in Malta’s tourism sector as Founder of Robert Arrigo & Sons and a popular politician with the Nationalist Party, has passed away at the age of 67.

The news was announced on Tuesday (today) morning.

As a major tourism player, Mr Arrigo’s incoming destination management businesses was a key partner to hoteliers around the country, attracting tourists from around the world by promoting Malta and its attractions.

Mr Arrigo was elected as the first mayor of Sliema in 1994, confirmed with ever higher numbers of votes in 1997, 2000, and 2003.

Later on in 2003, he was elected to Parliament. In 2013, following the PN’s historic electoral loss, he was appointed Shadow Minister for Tourism, a role he served until his death. He was also deputy leader of the party.

Mr Arrigo has been vocal about his health issues, as he struggled with cancer in the last months of his life.