Malta wins tourism award
Malta has been awarded ‘Best International Destination’ at the Group Leisure Awards held earlier this week.
The Malta Tourism Authority said that the annual Group Leisure Awards were presented in Birmingham in front of 350 members of the UK and international travel trade. The Best International Destination category was sponsored by Poppy Travel, official travel arm of The Royal British Legion.
The Group Leisure Awards are voted for by readers of Group Leisure, the UK’s number one monthly magazine for group travel organizers. Readers of Group Leisure magazine vote across different categories that cover the range and variety on offer for leisure groups today. Malta emerged as the winner of the annual readers’ choice awards, voted for by the most discerning group travel organisers.
Alex Incorvaja, Director UK & Ireland said that ‘it is indeed an honour to win such a prestigious award. Our efforts in promoting the Maltese Islands as a leisure destination for groups are certainly reaping results. This comes as a vote of confidence to us by the travel specialists in this sector and goes to show that our product is very much geared towards this market’.
The other finalists for this award were Bruges, New York City and Tallinn.
Malta is immensely proud to have scooped the award despite the tough competition by the other destination candidates, the MTA said.
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James J. Patton
Oct 5th 2010, 20:58
Every holiday destination has a downside as well depending on who you are and what you expect for what you pay, criticism will at times be a factor when discussing your experiences but is it really worth getting uptight about negitive comments when you can promote the positive side, this and other awards prove without question that the Maltese Islands are a force to be reckoned with in terms of tourism and will continue to attract it's share of tourists each year.
.
Edward James
Oct 5th 2010, 20:12
Group Leisure Awards? Group Leisure Magazine? Never heard of them. More than a week since the Group Leisure Awards, a search of Google News for 'Group Leisure Awards' (in quotes) gives a whopping 7 results. Of those 7 results, the Times of Malta is the only notable source reporting it.
@Joe Bezzina, it's probably a good idea to listen to those tourists.
Bruce Tabone
Oct 5th 2010, 19:06
Great coment Mr.Bezzina, our sentiments exactly my fried - you sized our little island all in a nutshell. fair play to you. Good on you mate, and guess what its all fair dinkum. Oh bt the way we have the same kind of comments 4 D>Poms back home, we tolerate them, but then again we do not have to marry them, if you get my meaning.
Joe Bezzina
Oct 5th 2010, 18:17
Well Well Well, after all the negative commnts pointed at us Maltese from some tourists mainly British tourists, regarding the state of our roads, the Bus drivers, the two tear prices,parking tickets, high restaurant prices and many other such negative reports, well then,all i can say is:- One should never believe everything they read in the papers regarding Malta as a bad holiday destination or bird butchers as some labeled us,or perhaps D. stupid eurovision contest, tourists still flock to our island after all.The toruism Award just proves my point. and that is not to take negative comments to heart as its all a load of bull sh*t. As long as the tourist still visit the islands and spend their money here who care what they think, i put it all down to jealousey cause they know we have a great island, brilliant heritage, sun sea and a safe country, and this is more then i can say for their homeland. Have fun and stop moaning. End of Story.
E Phillips
Oct 5th 2010, 20:04
".....One should never believe everything they read in the papers regarding Malta as a bad holiday destination".
But should believe the positive ones.? Weird logic
Matthew Pardew
Oct 6th 2010, 00:55
Mr Bezzina, tourists being tourists, they will complain at anything that will disrupt their holiday, no argument there. But when it's both the locals and whoever else visits the island complains about the same thing, 'something's gotta give'. Could you honestly say that our roads are acceptable for our modern standards? Could you say that the vast majority of bus drivers considers a passenger's experience the second they step on their vehicle? .. Ignoring the prices and the tickets (not even worth mentioning for obvious reasons), Could you ask yourself the above questions and blame anyone for complaining? Such an award is not a blessing but a bad thing. Knowing us Maltese and our mentality, this will be a perfect excuse to blind ourselves with pride and think there is absolutely nothing wrong here.
Charles Callus
Oct 6th 2010, 08:06
"As long as the tourist still visit the islands and spend their money here who care what they think..."
That is not a good way to do business.
Negative comments aren't always bullshit. I'm not saying that there aren't people who complain just for the sake of it but you cannot deny the fact that we should listen to all complaints and act on them to improve the product we offer.
Ignoring complaints and brushing them off is not the way to go.
Martin Zammit
Oct 6th 2010, 11:31
Considering some 75% of all Malta's revenue comes from tourism and a very sizeable portion of that from the UK tourist I find your comments very immature. It is an attitude like yours that damages our reputation abroad. Complaints need to be taken very seriously and the issues, if any, dealt with accordingly. To say 'who cares what they think' is arrogant to say the least. The secret to good business is repeat custom where one must ensure that good service is given so that tourists will return again and again and that they spread the good word as that is the best way to guarantee good trade, word of mouth. It is the best recommendation. Every country has its pros and cons and no country is indispensable. If you think sun, and history is enough to keep bringing quality tourism to our shores, think again. With the Far Eastern destinations becoming very affordable it won't take long for our island to start becoming overlooked. We all have a role to play in ensuring a thriving tourist industry for Malta and ridiculous, arrogant and pompous remarks like yours have no place in its continuing development.