AMITEX '98 Tourism Seminars

One of the many innovations during the 5th edition of the Air Malta International Travel Exhibition (AMITEX) will be the organization of two seminars on Friday 20 March that will deal with tourism.

The seminars are being organised by Air Malta and the National Tourism Organization - Malta (NTOM) with the collaboration of the Trade Fairs Corporation, under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism. The morning seminar, entitled The Maltese as Ambassadors will be introduced by the Hon Minister of Tourism and the Self Employed and will be chaired by Mr Louis Grech, Chairman of the Air Malta Group of Companies. The primary aim of this seminar is to further inform local associations and organizations that are or could be actively involved with promoting Malta as an international business meeting location.

The selected audience includes a variety of sports associations, medical organizations, political parties, public and private corporations, as well as other institutions that are active in the international front. Keynote speakers for this morning seminar include officials from the NTOM, Air Malta, the newly-formed Association of Destination Management Companies, as well as local private conference organizers.

In the afternoon of the same day - Friday 20 - a second seminar Il-Malti u t-turist will stress the importance of the tourism industry for the Maltese economy. The Chairman for this session will be NTOM Chairman Dr J Galea Debono. It is planned that this seminar will serve as a catalyst to create an open discussion between the authorities, those directly or indirectly involved in tourism, as well as the general public.

Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) will be contributing to the seminar through the production of a video that will include interviews with tourists on holiday in Malta, a view of the "Malta Product" as well as a focus on criticism and compliments that Malta has received from tourists holidaying on the island.

The highlight of Il-Malti u t-turist will be an open discussion, introduced by the Hon Minister of Tourism Mr Karmenu Vella and involving former tourism ministers Mr Reno Calleja, Mr Joe Grima, Hon Dr Joe Psaila Savona and Hon Dr Michael Refalo, on the theme Ir-rwol tac-cittadin Malti fis-settur tat-turizmu (The role of the Maltese citizen in the tourism sector).

The Hon Prime Minister Dr Alfred Sant will deliver the closing address of what is planned to become an integral part of the AMITEX organization in the future.

It is being planned that the seminars will be transmitted direct on AMlTEX'98 which will be screened on Channel 4 on the cable network.

Further information on the seminars and AMITEX 98 can be obtained from the NTOM Conference and Incentive Division or Air Malta's Marketing & Public Relations Department.