Promoting the Malta Events Calendar

Reacting to my piece regarding the promotion of events (The Sunday Times, July 18), "Roamer" (July 25) draws the conclusion that since I had stated that the MTA's overseas offices need information on local events at least 18 months before, and since the Authority is currently collecting information on next year's events for the Malta Events Calendar 2005, we are somehow not keeping to our own deadlines.

Perhaps I did not make myself sufficiently clear in my article. As soon as the MTA obtains information on any local event being planned, whether this is to take place within three months, a year, or two years' time, this is brought to the attention of our overseas network. Moreover, once the basic details are confirmed, the information is also placed on our Websites, namely www.visitmalta.com, www.maltafestivals.com and www.mta.com.mt

With regard to the printed version of the calendar, the reason why we wait for summer to collate information on events for the following year is that past experience has taught us that there is little point in anticipating these efforts, namely because of the lack of response from many of the organisers. The issue of timely information is so real that we even plan to produce a second printed version of the calendar in April 2005 to ensure that tourists get to know of local events, at least while they're here.

Generally speaking, our impression is that although some event organisers do sit on information, in most cases it seems that many of these genuinely find it difficult to commit themselves at an early stage of their preparations.

Since many of these events are organised by private organisations or individuals, we see the key to an improvement in this respect as being that of raising awareness of the benefits accruing from a change in their modus operandi. This we do whenever the occasion presents itself

When "Roamer" states that the 2006 calendar is available, it would help to be more specific. If the information on the events the colurnnist has in mind has been passed on to MTA, it is being acted upon.

In this respect, the MTA welcomes information on any event which is planned to be held over the next two to three years. This information can be sent by fax on 2291-5894 or by e-mail at coryse.naudi@visitmalta.com.

It should be added that during a meeting held recently between officials of the MTA and the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts, chaired by the Minister of Tourism and Culture, it was agreed that there would be better liaison between both entities for the future, and that both entities will be more pro-active in this regard.