As Malta’s tourism industry aims to surpass the two million visitor mark this year, a new publication that directly supports this growth while highlighting the need for quality has been released.
Hospitality Malta, a quarterly publication, was launched in the presence of Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis, together with a number of stakeholders in the local tourism field.
Hospitality Malta is another publication from the iMNG Group of brands, specialists in B2B publishing, and “directed towards the hospitality industry of Malta and Gozo,” said Jason Attard, managing director and editor-in-chief.
“We feel there is a significant need for information and awareness on the industry segments, not only on one specific sector,” he added.
Tony Coleiro, the publication’s technical editor, a well-known figure in the local tourism sector, also spoke about Hospitality Malta’s being a quality product from which the whole industry is to benefit.
“Our approach is based on the fact that there is no better place for one to learn and improve than from one’s own peers and stalwarts. Or from the academic structures that exist,” he said.
While mentioning the new challenges of the Institute of Tourism Studies, he stressed the need for new synergies so that even the University of Malta would further involve itself in this sector and, possibly with the ITS, create new horizons for the teaching of hospitality.
The Minister welcomed the launch of this new publication. “Indeed, Hospitality Malta is a first and I welcome and endorse this new publication,” he said. This project is, in fact, fully supported by the Ministry for Tourism and the Malta Tourism Authority because “it is clearly not just another tourism magazine but an effective vehicle for further thought and focused analysis within the tourism industry,” Dr Zammit Lewis said.
Among other stakeholders present for the launch were Michael Piscopo, the MTA’s director of communications and digital media. He said the MTA was pleased to support this initiative. One of the authority’s roles is that of increasing awareness about the importance of tourism and raising quality standards in product and service. “We believe this publication is very much in line with this objective and provides a useful platform for getting our message across to the hospitality sector.”
Joseph Galea, Air Malta’s acting CEO, said: “The national airline is proud to be an integral part of the tourism industry in Malta. Over the years the airline has invested heavily to build and develop tourism markets overseas. Today we have a thriving industry and a hospitality sector that is second to none.”
For more information, call 2010 7775 or e-mail info@i-mng.com.