MTA launches bus shelter Tourism Awareness Campaign

As part of the Malta Tourism Authority’s Tourism Awareness campaign, bus shelter posters have been installed throughout the island with a message emphasising the economic benefits of tourism.  The poster carries the message Turizmu = Lm 350 miljun + 40,000 impjieg.  Fit-Turizmu sehmek kollox.  (Tourism = Lm 350 million + 40,000 jobs.  Your role in tourism is vital.)

 

The bus shelters, which are managed by Faces Displays, will be lit up at night for maximum exposure and to deter vandalism.

 

The tourism awareness campaign is part of as nationwide effort which the Ministry for Tourism and the MTA have been leading in order to stress the importance of this industry and the need for ownership by the local community as a whole.

 

Commenting on the initiative, MTA Chairman, Dr John C Grech said: “Overseas, the MTA is portraying Malta as a unique destination. In this respect, we are promising the delivery of a quality experience. This is important not only with regards to physical facilities but also in terms of the type of welcome and hospitable environment that visitors will encounter.  This will ensure positive word of mouth advertising, which has the most impact.”

 

15th Malta International Choir Festival

The Malta Tourism Authority is to hold the 15^th edition of the Malta International Choir Festival at the Mediterranean Conference Centre from Tuesday 11^th until Friday 14^th November 2003.

 

This year there will be 14 male, female and mixed choirs participating. The choirs hail from the UK, Germany, Ukraine, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Poland, USA, Latvia, and Malta.

 

The festival will be held inside the Republic Hall of the historical Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta. During the final evening the YADA Dance Company will be performing a 25-minute dance programme.

  

Tickets are available from the Tourist Information Centre at City Gate, Valletta or from the entrance of the Mediterranean Conference Centre one hour before the performance.  Tickets for the semi-final evenings cost Lm 3.00 while tickets for the final night cost Lm 5.00. A comprehensive Lm 8.00 ticket will entitle one to attend all of the semi finals as well as the final evening.

 

The programme for each of the four semi-final nights will start at 19.00 and end at around 21.45 hrs.  The final night will end at around 22.30 hrs. More information may be obtained from the Tourism Information Centres in Malta and Gozo tel. nos: 21 381392, 21 237747.

MTA Management on Team-Building Seminar

The Malta Tourism Authority’s Corporate Administration and Human Resources Division recently organised a team-building seminar for management at the Mgarr Hotel in Gozo.

 

The speakers at the seminars included psychologist Fr Darmanin, SJ who spoke about ‘Leadership in Management’ and MTA CEO Mr Leslie Vella who spoke about issues related to teamwork, management systems, leadership and co-ordination between the various directorates and divisions of the MTA.

MTA calls for early introduction of shuttle service to Valletta

The Malta Tourism Authority welcomes the proposed shuttle service from the cruise passenger terminal to Valletta.  The MTA believes that this service, as well as the proposed lift to the Upper Barracca, is of utmost importance if Malta is to become a more attractive port of call for cruise liners. 

 

The MTA believes that objections to the introduction of the shuttle service are short-sighted. The core issue is not how the “cake” is to be shared out between the different stakeholders but rather how the “cake” can be made larger so that everyone can benefit, including taxi drivers and others who are currently opposing the shuttle service.

 

Providing the widest possible choice for transport to Valletta increases demand for the destination.  More cruise ships are likely to call on Malta if they know passengers will be able to visit heritage sites easily. 

 

Clearly, the interests and concerns of particular groups should be taken into account.  Ultimately, however, it is the interest of the tourism industry as a whole which should take priority. The MTA therefore urges Government and the Malta Transport Authority (ADT) to proceed with the introduction of the shuttle service without delay. 

Continuing Professional Development Programmes

In line with the Malta Tourism Authority’s objective to raise human resource standards and in support of tourism operators, the Malta Tourism Authority’s Human Resource and Support Services Directorate will be launching a series of programmes which form part of the sector’s continuing professional development (CPD).

 

The eighteen programmes, which will be held between November 2003 and June 2004, are aimed at key people within the tourism sector/

 

More information on these programmes may be obtained through the Training and Development web-page of the MTA’s corporate website www.mta.com.mt, email: training&development@visitmalta.com or tel. nos: 22915406/1.   

Assisting Cruise Liner Passengers who visit Malta

The MTA and VISET Malta p.l.c. recently unveiled a Tourist Information Booth at the Cruise Passenger Terminal at Pinto Wharf in Valletta. The day-to-day operation of the Tourist Information Booth is managed by VISET Malta p.l.c, with the support of the MTA.

 

A number of multi-lingual tourist information officers who have experience in the tourism industry are now on duty at the new booth to facilitate the distribution of information to incoming cruise liner passengers.

 

“This service is part of a wider joint action programme being implemented by the MTA and VISET plc, which aims at improving the Malta experience of cruise passengers disembarking at the Cruise Passenger Terminal. A committee which brings together the interested stakeholders is currently working on developing a long-term plan to improve all operations related to the cruise passenger sector”, said MTA Chairman Dr John C. Grech.

 

“During 2003, the number of cruise liner passengers coming to Malta was over 400,000 and it is expected to grow – Malta’s central location in the Med gives us a potential to increase the number of cruise passengers in the coming years” said VISET Malta p.l.c CEO Chris Falzon.

Also present at the inauguration were VISET Chairman Mr Joseph Grioli and MTA CEO Mr Leslie Vella.

MTA Malta ads on Vienna trams

The Malta Tourism Authority’s Vienna Office initiated a publicity campaign on Malta on trams in Vienna, Austria for the first time ever.

 

During the campaign, the trams passed in front of various prime and busy sites in the city centre, such the Town Hall, Parliament and the Vienna opera house.

Valletta Churches to open in the mornings

The MTA's Product Planning and Development Directorate has undertaken a new initiative to co-ordinate the openings in the morning of Valletta churches.  

 

The MTA has reached an agreement with the Church authorities whereby the following six churches in Valletta will be open to visitors during mornings.  These are:  Our Lady of Victory Church, Church of St Francis of Assisi, St Paul’s Shipwreck Collegiate Church and Parish Church of Our Lady of Safe Havens, Church of Our Lady of Mt Carmel, St Mary of Jesus Church (Ta’ Giezu) and St Dominic.

 

The MTA has also produced a leaflet which may be obtained from Tourist Information Centres.  An information sheet is also available inside the churches.

 

In the initial months, the MTA will provide some financial assistance to the churches.  It is hoped that sufficient income will generated to encourage the churches to extend opening hours to the afternoon.  After the trial period, it is envisaged that the other Valletta churches will opt to take part in this initiative.

Milan AC U-16 football team to call on Malta

Malta has been selected by the Milan Youths Project (Milan Progetto Giovani) as the ideal location for the 2004 Junior Camp 2004 – the football holiday of the under-16 rosso-neri players.

On the 5^th September 2004, a team of promising youths aged between 6 and 16 will come to Malta for a week for a working holiday.  The more experienced players as well as those approaching the sport for the first time will experience Malta in a safe and healthy formative environment.

 

The initiative was carried out in collaboration with Air Malta.

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