The 12th edition of the Air Malta International Travel Exhibition (AMITEX) will be held at the Trade Fair Grounds in Naxxar between next Thursday and April 24.

The fair has proved to be a popular event with the Maltese travelling public and has now become firmly established as the travel and holiday showcase in Malta.

This year's edition of AMITEX will see the participation of around 80 local and foreign exhibitors.

Local tour operators and travel agents will once again be present in good numbers while foreign service providers coming from countries including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Egypt, England, France, Holland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Morocco, Romania, Russia, Spain, Turkey, Tunisia, Scotland, Sicily, Spain and Syria will be present.

Throughout AMITEX Air Malta will promote its summer 2005 flight schedule which will run till the end of October.

This summer Air Malta will operate no less than 189 flights every week to 50 scheduled destinations in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

This summer the airline will start operating to a number of new scheduled destinations: Nantes and Toulouse from Thursday and to Newcastle from May 5. These will complement flights to East Midlands and Bristol which Air Malta started operating to only last month.

Entertainment at AMITEX 2005 will focus on local talent also featuring Chiara, the winner of this year's Malta Song for Europe Festival. Chira will be singing live on April 23 at 7.30 p.m.

Air Malta's chief officer strategic planning Dominic Attard said at the launch yesterday that AMITEX provides opportunities for the travel and holiday industry in Malta to meet and discuss issues of common interest. It gives the airline the opportunity to catch up with its major travel partners as well as gauge the public demand for products and offers.

AMITEX 2005 will be open to the public on Thursday and Friday from 6 to 10 p.m., on April 23 from 5 to 10 p.m. and on April 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4 to 9 p.m.