Emirates Holidays, the tour operating arm of Emirates Airline and the largest wholesale tour operator in the Gulf and Middle East, declared a revenue of US$97 million (Lm32 million) for the financial year ended March 31, 2005 - an increase of 23 per cent over the previous year.

Around 100,000 tourists travelled with Emirates Holidays over the past 12 months, with the top destinations proving to be the UAE, Malaysia, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Egypt, Mauritius, the Maldives, Singapore, Lebanon and India. The six destinations growing fastest in popularity were Singapore, Australia, Switzerland, Austria, Hong Kong and New Zealand.

The past year has seen Emirates Holidays expand its worldwide operations to commence sales in India and Russia.

Over the same period, it launched Tradenet - a real time electronic information pricing, quotation and availability system - to close to 1,000 travel agents in the Middle East, South Europe, including Malta, East Africa and the Indian sub-continent.

The financial results were announced at a press conference which also marked the launch of Emirates Holidays World of Choice 2005 brochures. Offering the best of the Middle East, Africa and the Indian Ocean, Asia and Australia, Europe and North America, the brochures feature over 100 destinations in 36 countries and are the most comprehensive product offering of Emirates Holidays to date.

Emirates currently operates three direct flights each week from Dubai to Malta: on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays on the A330-200. This flight gives a convenient connection to outgoing and incoming passengers from Australia and the Far East.