More young people visiting Malta

The number of young people visiting Malta rose significantly in the first months of this year, an indication that efforts by the Malta Tourism Authority in this direction are paying off, Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco said today.

He said that last year, visitors aged up to 24 years constituted 15.2 percent of arrivals, while those aged 25-44 represented 36.2 percent. So far this year, those aged under 24 have increased by 53.3 percent and the 25-44 age group has shown growth of 32 percent.

Dr de Marco was speaking at the formal launch of the second edition of the Isle of MTV concert in Malta, which is sponsored by the MTA.

The concert, on June 25, will see a return of singer Enrique Iglesias, (picture) who wowed the huge crowd at the concert last year. Other performers will include The Kooks, N.E.R.D. , Lady GaGa and One Republic (See separate story in the News section).

Dr de Marco spoke on the important promotional value of the Isle of MTV concert in Malta, saying that apart from the concert itself, MTV is promoting Malta through competitions with a potential viewership of 147 million households in Europe.

There will also be promotional adverts, and promotion throughout August in the run-up to the actual transmission in September.

MTA officials said an MTV Music Week has been organised ahead of the Malta concert. That will include Club Nights and Giapula and La Grotta on June 20-21 respectively. A beach party at Amazonia on June 22 and live music parties on June 23 and June 24 in Paceville and Bugibba which will be filmed by MTV to showcase local talent.