The Malta Tourism Authority is in the process of extending its network of tourist information offices to cover more tourist zones, Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco said today.

He was speaking at the inauguration of a new office at Mellieha, set up in collaboration with the local council.

Dr deMarco said it was important for the MTA to have an information office in Mellieha since the locality had 14 hotels with 5,000 beds - 14% of Malta's bedstock.

Another information office would be opened in Mdina and talks would be started with other local councils.

The new office in Mellieha is sited near the sanctuary church, one of the most visited sites in the locality.

At Mdina, it will be right besides the main gate.

The MTA's aim is for the offices to eventually be run by local people after proper training.

During this morning's ceremony Dr de Marco presented the national prize of the European Destination of Excellence to the mayor, Robert Cutajar.

The prize is part of an EU programme which promotes the values, diversity and characteristics of sustainable European tourism destinations.

The parliamentary secretary said Mellieha had succeeded in developing its tourist attractions without irreversibly damaging its rural areas and historical sites. He underlined the locality's attractions, ranging from the beaches to ago-tourism and archaeological sites.

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