The work done by the government and the Malta Tourism Authority to address accessibility in Malta's core markets is starting to bear fruit, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism Mario de Marco said.

He was speaking as low-cost airline Ryanair started a new service between Malta and Edinburgh.

The parliamentary secretary welcomed the 94 percent load factor on the inaugural flight.

“The beginning of this route, together with others which should kick off later on this month, will see an increase of seats flying to Malta from various destinations. Ensuring accessibility to our country is fundamental for the local tourism industry, and we are fully committed to continue discussions with various airlines on other underserved or new routes for the future,” he said.

Dr de Marco said that these new routes by low-cost airlines, together with Air Malta’s new destinations of Stuttgart, Verona, Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Warsaw; and increased frequencies on other routes, would ensure that this summer, the number of seats would be slightly higher than in 2008.

He said the MTA and the stakeholders in private industry had to work together in marketing and promoting Malta overseas, to stimulate demand among people who would be travelling.

The Parliamentary Secretary concluded by saying that these new routes come at a cost to the Malta Tourism Authority and government, but considering that 98% of Malta’s tourists come by air, it is imperative that these are sustained.