After the recent reports in The Times regarding the 51st edition of the International Fair of Malta, I would like to make the following points.
The fair's prime objective is to generate business for exhibitors while offering the public a venue where they can view, with ease and comfort, what is available on the market before making their choice of purchase.
As such, we aim to avoid overcrowding, to give both visitors and exhibitors as much quality time as possible to conduct business.
The attendance of 70,000 visitors over 10 days, as compared to 12 days last year, clearly shows that the public, notwithstanding other methods which are available today to make purchases, still want to have this facility. In a small market such as is Malta, achieving an attendance of 70,000 is, we believe, most satisfactory.
One has to also point out that this is the first time the fair was organised, from scratch, at Ta' Qali.
From day one the management was attentive to comments made by the visiting public and exhibitors and took immediate action to remedy any deficiencies.
A case in point was the prompt introduction of a free park-and- ride service to facilitate access to the MFCC fair grounds from the parking areas located on the periphery of Ta' Qali.
MFCC management took precautions to improve the atmo-sphere within the Ta' Qali area for visitors.
At its own considerable expense MFCC illuminated the perimeter roads within Ta' Qali and the outlying car park zones to overcome the lack of lighting that exists in these areas.
The cleaning crew, which was constantly at work inside the premises, was supported by MRRA cleaners to improve the level of cleanliness not only in the fairgrounds but also in the surrounding car parks.
In conclusion, I wish to add that the survey by the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises - GRTU provided excellent feedback from exhibitors and all comments will be analysed and, where possible, taken on board by MFCC in line with the company's policy to continuously improve the standard of fairs and exhibitions.
Last but by far not least, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the exhibitors who participated and the members of the public for visiting the fair. Without their support no fair can be a success.