Tourism from Russia

Malta is fast becoming an increasingly popular travel destination for the Russian holiday maker, primarily as a result of the NTOM's extensive efforts in this market.

A meeting between the Minister of Tourism Karmenu Vella and senior Aeroflot executives in Moscow earlier on this year, led to a substantial boost in the overall airline seat capacity from this source market, including that of Air Malta.

Nowadays, flights from Moscow are accompanied by charters organised from the key Russian cities of St. Petersburg, Ekaterinburg and Otenburg as well as from Kiev, in the Ukraine.

The Ministry of Tourism was instrumental in simplifying the visa arrangements for Russian tourists in close collaboration with the local travel trade and the Police Immigration authorities facilitating the development of the trade.

This year's NTOM's marketing plan included participation in the leading tourist fairs, support to selected Russian Tour Operators, trade and consumer advertising as well a massive public relations campaign attracting no less than forty five Russian journalists.

The Russian market reacted positively to these efforts, and there are indications that Malta has been sold out since last July, and that 1997 could indeed be a breakthrough year, with Russian arrivals reaching the 18,000 mark meaning a substantial increase of 29% of traffic over 1996.

Although the great majority of Russian tourists visit Malta on holiday, a number of these are also using their stay on the islands to learn or improve their command of the English Language.