Annual Conference 2007
The Annual Conference 2007 "Tourism Towards Tomorrow" held on May 29 at The Oracle, New Dolmen Resort, Bugibba.More at: AC07.
The Malta Tourism Authority appoints Media Consulta as its international Communications partner
The Malta Tourism Authority today officially appointed its new international Communications partner, Media Consulta International Holding AG. The agency was awarded the three-year contract for Advertising and Marketing Communications Services, with the option to extend for a further year, following a lengthy international tendering process that was officially concluded less than two weeks ago. Media Consulta will be responsible for a €7 million annual account covering the Malta Tourism Authority s media, advertising, selected PR services, events and sales promotion activities.More at: 0706pr4.
Marketing Conference 2007
The Marketing Conference held on May 28 at the New Dolmen Resort saw the attendance of all the MTA s overseas offices and representative office, as well as the public relations companies working on the MTA s behalf in the various markets.More at: 0706pr5.
A Blue Flag status for St George's Bay
The success of the beach replenishment project in St. George s Bay, St Julian s means that the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) and my Ministry are providing a quality tourism product; a product which ensure that environmental and quality standards are maintained whilst encouraging recreation. More at: 0706pr12.
Festa Muzika – Fête de la Musique
The Malta Tourism Authority is proud to present an evening-long music festival - Festa Muzika - which will take place in St. Paul s Bay, Bugibba and Qawra on June 21. More at: 0706pr17.
The Grand Prix de Malte – Classic Cars Grand Prix
The first edition of the Grand Prix de Malte, a rally for Classic Cars will be held around Valletta between 20 - 29 October 2007.More at: 0706pr7.
Malta bookings on Expedia break new records week on week
Since the new Malta promotional campaign on Expedia, the world s largest online travel company, began on the 1st of April this year, Room Night (RN) bookings for accommodation in Malta & Gozo have been increasing significantly. At the end of the previous campaign, (Q1, 2007), the average number of Malta RNs booked per week was in the region of 1100 1350. The current average number of weekly Room Nights booked in Malta and Gozo through Expedia now stands at approximately 2000! This is also the first time ever that Expedia are selling more than 300 Malta RNs a day. An enthusiastic Expedia spokesperson stated that, where Malta sales are concerned, right now every week is a new record week .More at: 0706pr23.
Other news stories this month:
Airmalta plc is back to compete in the market
On May 4 2007 at 15:45 hours, KM 657 from Venice, landed at the Malta International Airport. This is a new destination in order to expand the Airmalta market direct flights. More at: 0706pr15.
Clickair inaugural flight from Barcelona
7 June saw the first flight by the new low cost airline, Clickair landing at Malta International Airport. Clickair is a low cost airline based in Barcellona's El Prat airport with plans to operate 70 routes between 55 Spanish and European cities by 2008. The tourists on the inaugural flight were treated to a hospitable Maltese welcome with a brass band playing maltese tunes and typical maltese honey rings and flowers.More at: 0706pr26.
Eco-Certification
The Malta Tourism Authority s Eco-Certification Scheme has succeeded in encouraging hotels to deliver a better product to meet the demand of the evermore environmentally aware tourist. To participate, hotels must comply with a number of criteria all aimed at improving the hotels environmental performance and increasing environmental awareness amongst employees.More at: 0706pr11.
Sarkozy in Malta
French president-elect Nicholas Sarkozy has left Paris to Malta early afternoon on Monday. He arrived at the Malta International Airport at around 1400CEST on a private jet with his wife Cecilia and his child Louie.More at: 0706pr9.
Malta at TV gala dinner in Rome
The Malta Tourism Authority co-sponsored a celebrity social held at the Sheraton Rome. This event offered us a unique opportunity to present Malta to an influential crowd in Italian politics and its film industry.More at: 0706pr24.
Inaugural Airmalta flight from Liverpool John Lennon airport
On May 7 2007, the Malta Tourism Authority with the intervention of its hospitality division has inaugurated the second arrival from the Liverpool airport for the new Airmalta destination flight.More at: 0706pr16.
30 page feature in Zine Magazine, Norway
Zine, one of Norway's glossy travel magazines www.zinetravel.no. The magazine can be bought at newsagents or on subscription. The publishers had a stand at Reiseliv Fair in Oslo in January where we took the opportunity to present different aspects of Malta to the editor and invited the magazine to visit.More at: 0706pr6.
Calendar Of Events:
- 01 Mar - 10 Apr
- LUNCHTIME CONCERTS (Carmelite Priory - Mdina)
- 09 Feb - 05 Mar
- JOURNEY WITH CARAVAGGIO (Auberge d'Italie, Merchants Street - Valletta)
- 05-07 Mar
- HORIZONS (MITP Theatre - Valletta)
- 05-06 Mar
- SHADES: A SAXAPHONE AND PIANO CONCERT (Sagrestia Vault - Valletta Waterfront)
- 06 Mar
- HANDEL'S MESSIAH (Mdina Metropolitan Cathedral - Mdina)
- 07 Mar
- CULTURAL TOUR - VALLETTA AND FLORIANA (Valletta and Floriana)
- IN GUARDIA PARADE (Fort St Elmo - Valletta)
- 12 Mar
- FEAST OF CHRIST THE REDEEMER (Senglea)
- 12-14 Mar
- A THREE DAY CULTURAL FESTIVAL "IS-SAGRA TA' SAN GIRGOR" (Kercem (Gozo))
- PAINTING BY NUMBERS (St. James Cavalier - Valletta)
- 13 Mar
- A MELODY TRIP (Sala Isouard - The Manoel Theatre, Valletta)
- AN EVENING IN SPRING - SPANISH EVENING (Calypso Hotel - Marsalforn, Gozo)
- 13-14 Mar
- THE LITTLE BIG CLUB MALTA (St. Agatha Theatre - Rabat, Malta)
- TEECHERS (Ministry for Gozo Exhibition Hall - Victoria, Gozo)
- 14 Mar
- ALARME RE-ENACTMENTS (Fort St Elmo - Valletta)
- 17-24 Mar
- BOV OPERA FESTIVAL (The Manoel Theatre - Valletta)
- 19 Mar
- FEAST OF ST JOSEPH (Rabat)
- 19-20 Mar
- JIEM IL-ĠONNA (GARDEN FESTIVAL) (Balzan)
- 19-22 Mar
- SEĦER IL-PUNENT - GHARB FESTIVAL (Għarb, Gozo)
- 20-21 Mar
- GIGI D'AGOSTINO (Sky Club)
- 21 Mar
- IN GUARDIA PARADE (Fort St Elmo - Valletta)
- 27-28 Mar
- OPERETTA - "SCUGNIZZA" (The Manoel Theatre - Valletta)
- 28 Mar
- PALM SUNDAY (Various Locations)
- NATIONAL DUATHLON CHAMPIONSHIP (Salina Bay)
- IN GUARDIA PARADE (Fort St Elmo - Valletta)
- 28 Mar - 04 Apr
- HOLY WEEK AND EASTER (Malta & Gozo)
- 28 Mar - 25 Apr
- EDWARD CARUANA DINGLI (1876-1950) (The Palace - Valletta)
- 31 Mar
- FREEDOM DAY (Malta & Gozo)
- "DIED FOR OUR SALVATION" (Dingli)
- 02 Apr
- GOOD FRIDAY (Malta & Gozo)
- 03 Apr
- RONAN KEATING LIVE (MFCC - Ta' Qali)
- 03-11 Apr
- HISTORY IN SCALE MODEL EXPO (Malta Aviation Museum - Ta' Qali)
- 04 Apr
- EASTER SUNDAY (Malta & Gozo)
- 06-11 Apr
- MALTA RALLY 2010 (Malta)
- 08-11 Apr
- INTERNATIONAL SWIM MEET (Malta)
- 09-11 Apr
- MEDIEVAL MDINA PAGEANTRY & FLOWER FESTIVAL (Mdina)
- 10 Apr
- FEAST OF ST. VINCENT (Valletta)
- 11 Apr
- SPRING FESTIVAL (Qormi)
- EXHIBITION OF TRADITIONAL CRAFTS (San Gwann)
- EMIRATES - MALTA RACING CLUB CUP CHALLENGE (Malta Racing Club - Marsa)
- ALARME RE-ENACTMENTS (Fort St Elmo - Valletta)
- 15 Apr
- COMMEMORATION OF THE AWARD OF THE GEORGE CROSS (St George's Square - Valletta)
- 16-18 Apr
- "THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST" (The Manoel Theatre - Valletta)
- 17-18 Apr
- VISIT BY POPE BENEDICT XVI (Various Locations)
- "TAP RELOADED" (Mediterranean Conference Centre - Valeltta)
- 18 Apr
- IN GUARDIA PARADE (Fort St Elmo - Valletta)
- 21 Apr
- FOOTBALL MATCH - MALTA VS ROMANIA (Centenary Stadium - Ta' Qali)
- 23-25 Apr
- ILWIEN IR-REBBIEGĦA (SPRING COLOURS) (Żebbuġ, Gozo)
- STRANGE BIRD - BEING CARAVAGGIO (The Manoel Theatre - Valletta)
- 24 Apr
- THE 4TH MECHANICAL GROUND FIREWORKS DISPLAY (Floriana)
- 24-25 Apr
- LOCAL TRADITIONS & AGRICULTURE (Dingli)
- 25 Apr
- FEAST OF ST PUBLIUS (Floriana)
- IN GUARDIA PARADE (Fort St Elmo, Valletta)
- FESTA FRAWLI (Mgarr (Malta))
- 29 Apr - 02 May
- TRADITIONAL CRAFTS EVENING (Sta. Venera)
- 29-30 Apr
- MALTA INTERNATIONAL FIREWORKS FESTIVAL (Grand Harbour, Valletta)
- 30 Apr - 01 May
- MALTA YOUTH RUGBY FESTIVAL (Malta)
- 30 Apr
- CHAMBER ORCHESTRA (The Manoel Theatre, Valletta)
- PRODIGY IN CONCERT (MFCC, Ta' Qali) <-->
More news:
Complimentary Tickets available for In Guardia and Alarme Re-enactments
The Malta Tourism Authority has since 1995 been offering the opportunity to all tourists the possibility to visit Fort St. Elmo. This is one of Malta s major fortifications, positioned as it is on Valletta s promontory guarding the entrance of Marsamxett and Grand Harbour.More at: 0706pr14.
364 Transport Operators Attend MTA Training Programme
Over 364 transport service providers have participated in the Merhba training programme organised by the Malta Tourism Authority in collaboration with ADT. The participants included 132 taxi drivers, 98 bus drivers, 47 ADT Dispatchers, 54 coach drivers, 14 car hire operators and 19 horse drawn carriage drivers Karrozzini. The demand for this kind of training was so overwhelming that the programmes had to be repeated in order to accommodate this demand. This was announced by MTA s Chief Executive Officer David Mifsud during the certificate presentation ceremony held at the ADT s offices in Piet .More at: 0706pr8.
137 MIA and Air Malta Employees Complete Merhba and Service Culture Training
Over 137 front line employees from the Malta International Airport and Air Malta have completed the Service Culture and Merhba training programmes organised by the Malta Tourism Authority as part of the Tourism and Support Services Training Programme part funded by the EU from the 2004/2006 Structural Funds. The aim of these training programmes was to enhance the customer service culture with Air Malta and MIA employees who are the first contact with the tourists.More at: 0706pr10.
An assessment of three & two star accommodation in Malta
On Monday 7 May 2007, the Malta Tourism Authority presented the findings and recommendations of "An assessment of three & two star accommodation in Malta" to 3 and 2-star hotel owners and managers, members of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association. This study was commissioned by the MTA and carried out by Tourism Consultant George Micallef supported by officials from MTA's Marketing Support & Development, Product Planning and Regulatory Divisions.More at: 0706pr20.
Embellishement of Saqqajja Square, Rabat
MTA assisted financially the Rabat Local Council in the embellishment of Saqqajja Square Rabat. PPD was directly instrumental to implement such a long overdue initiative in a historic city tourism priority area. PPD contributed Lm5,000 for the project with total cost of Lm 45,000.More at: 0706pr3.
New Pavement for TIO in Valletta
The area surrounding the Tourism Information Office for MTA located below the archways in city gate Valletta had been one of the main focuses by TZM.More at: 0706pr1.
Coordinated plan to boost rock climbing in Maltese Islands
The MTA and the Malta Rock Climbing Club have embarked upon an ambitious project to equip 7 cliffs around Malta and Gozo in order to facilitate the increasingly popular sport of Rock Climbing.More at: 0706pr13.
Monitoring of operators' use of Ghadira beach
In preparation for the coming beach invasion, the Malta Tourism Authority has started monitoring the bay to better manage the needs of beach users and operators. A new layout for operator's umbrellas and deckchairs is already being enforced and monitored for furhter improvement during the summer months.More at: 0706pr25.
New adverts promoting MICE
introMore at: 0706pr22.
June issue of Events Magazine
Welcome to the June issue of Events. As summer approaches and the climate gets warmer, the Maltese islands get busier and livelier than ever with colourful events, such as village feasts and open-air parties. This time of the year needs no introduction to tourists visiting Malta and Gozo as many keep coming over and over again.More at: 0706pr21.
Conveying the Malta message worldwide
The current edition of Malta & Gozo Quarterly, the magazine promoting the Maltese Islands, was given a warm welcome when the first copies off the printing press were resented on the information desk at the MTA Conference.More at: 0706pr18.
June issue of ‘Malta & Gozo Day by Day’ – highlighting l-Imnarja and St. John's
The June issue of Malta & Gozo day by day presents a colourful detail from the traditional agricultural show at Buskett Gardens on the occasion of Mnarja, the festivity for which this summer month is well-known for. This is also backed up by a feature with further pictures reflecting local customs and traditions.More at: 0706pr19.