Little Rock International Tourism Development Manager and Delegation on a one-day visit to Malta

Minister for Tourism Michael Refalo and Mr. Winston Zahra, Chairman, MTA Marketing Directorate, hosted Jim Dailey, the Mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas, USA, and the Deputy Mayor of Ragusa in Sicily, Dr. Nello Di Pasquale, and a number of Arkansas tour operators to a reception at Palazzo Spinola. Little Rock and Ragusa are twinned cities.

In a short address of welcome Minister Refalo said he was in the happy position of having been to both Little Rock and Ragusa, the latter, due to its proximity on many occasions. Dr. Refalo said that twinning brought together peoples from far away parts of the world and from diverse backgrounds. "Between the province of Ragusa and Malta, one finds parallels and many points of convergence both in our history, our culture and social fabric. On the other hand the only parallel one finds between Malta and Little Rock is that the Old World and the New World meet in their desire to strengthen and ensure world peace through tourism".

Minister Refalo said that Malta and Ragusa could never expect any sizeable tourism business from either Little Rock, from Arkansas or for that matter from the USA, unless both destinations were part of a programme which made the long transatlantic journey attractive and competitive.

The Minister had during the last twelve months discussed two and three-point tourism programmes with his counterparts in Turkey, Cyprus, Tunisia and Egypt, as well as with the Assessor for Tourism of the Sicilian Region.

"We will lay the groundwork, create a favourable business climate and facilitate operations. It is then up to the more streetwise and active tour operators to grab the many opportunities which such programmes offer".

The Little Rock Mayor and his delegation are staying in Ragusa and were on a one-day visit to Malta during which they were taken on a conducted tour visiting Valletta, The Three Cities and Mdina.