Virtu' brings 2,000 Sicilians for New Year celebrations

Over 2000 tourists were ferried from Sicily over the New Year to celebrate in Malta, Virtu Ferries said today.

Stays ranged between three days and a week. The last group left Malta after La Befana on January 6.

Virtu Ferries said it fine tuned its schedule for the festive season after consultations with travel agents in Sicily. It also introduced new prices for hotel and catamaran packages from Sicily which were marketed via a large network of travel agents throughout Sicily.

This cooperation between Virtu' and hoteliers in Malta will continue in order to attract niche markets like the educational, religious and activities markets, Virtu' said.

The Malta Tourism Authority recently appointed a marketing executive with sole responsibility for the six-million strong Sicilian market.

The Maria Dolores (picture), which operates the Virtu Ferries' Malta-Sicily route, carries 600 passengers and makes over 500 round trips every year. It will be replaced in August by a new vessel, Jean De La Valette which will would have a capacity for 1,000 passengers.