Low-fares airline and Maltese tourism
By Nelson Alcantara
VALETTA, Malta (eTurboNews) — There has been quite a lot of hype and news in the media this week over the pending inauguration of flights by Ryanair, the Malta Tourism Society said.
According to the tourism society, it organized last year a forum on this very subject and including the impact of low fares airlines on Maltese tourism. “During the forum there were various views from entrepreneurs in the travel trade as well as by the Malta International Airport,” MTS said. “Although there were a number of reservations about the short term effects these airlines will have on our industry, yet there was consensus over the long term results.”
As an independent NGO, whose primary role is to create an awareness about the benefits from tourism to local residents if it is managed sustainability, the Malta Tourism Society claimed it believes that “the low fares airlines could certainly improve Malta’s image by making the islands more accessible to a broader client base; by cutting the cost of air travel to Malta, this strategy will also allow a good opportunity for visitors to spend more of their budget in Malta ad Gozo.”
On the other hand, this opportunity can only yield the most advantageous returns if we are more creative and innovative with our product development strategy, according to MTS.
“Malta and Gozo have a lot to offer the tourist with regards to culture, traditions and history, but we must look for value-for-money products and services such as Upgraded Itineraries; a civic sense of pride and a good attitude to hospitality and service,” the tourism society added.
“The society is already working with a number of local councils in this regard.”
April 29, 2005
Posted in: Airlines & Railways