Maltese participation at I.T.B. Fair in Berlin

A Maltese delegation led by the Minister of Tourism, Mr Karmenu Vella, attended the ITB fair in Berlin, between 8 and 12 March. The ITB fair is the most important and biggest travel trade fair in the world.

The delegation included Dr Joe Galea Debono - Chairman; Mr Paul Galea - Marketing Director; Mr Joe Galea - Overseas Director in Germany, and Mr Leslie Vella - Research Manager from NTOM. Air Malta was represented by Mr Joe Cappello - Division Coordinator (Commercial); Mr Stephen Borg -Regional Manager Central Europe and Mr Alfred Quintano - Assistant at the Chairman's Office.

The delegation had several meetings with various Tour Operators and several international hotel chains. A number of meetings were also organised on the Maltese stand with the German speaking-press and a well attended press lunch was hosted by the Minister. Germany is the second largest source market after the United Kingdom, having attracted 184,000 tourists in 1996.

Part of the Maltese stand was taken up by representatives from the private Maltese Travel Trade who held several discussions with other Tour Operators and representatives from Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium and Eastern Europe. These included both established tour operators, as well as new, prospective contacts.

During his stay in Berlin, Mr Karmenu Vella also met various tourism Ministers and officials, as well as the Secretary General of the World Tourism Organisation - Mr Francesco Frangialli.