Gigi D'Alessio in concert

Tourist arrivals from Italy in the first three months of this year rose by 33.3 per cent over the same period last year, Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said.

There is no doubt, he said, that the increased traffic is due to the introduction of low-cost airlines. The airline Meridiana is flying from Bologna and Ryanair operates from Pisa.

Last year, arrivals from Italy, the third in the list of countries from where Malta gets the largest number of tourists, exceeded those in 2005 by 22 per cent.

The minister was speaking at the launch of the forthcoming concert by Italian singer Gigi D'Alessio and his band. The concert, organised by MCK Promotions, will be held at Manoel Island on August 11.

Gigi D'Alessio is well known for such numbers as Cuori In Coro, Quanti Amori, Buona Vita and Uno Come Te among others. He has released 12 albums.