NEWS | Wednesday, 23 January 2008

MIA chief addresses SeaTrade conference in Malta on the potential for Winter Cruising

Addressing the SeaTrade conference on “The Current Scope and Future Potential for Winter Cruising,” last Thursday, Malta International Airport (MIA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Julian Jaeger explained how the MIA, through its shareholding in cruise passenger terminal operator VISET, was already assisting to the growth of the cruise liner industry in Malta.
“Malta International Airport, through its close partnership with VISET and MTA has stood fast to the existing potential, believed in it and has invested considerably to develop growth in the cruise market in the belief that Malta has all the pre-requisites to make this area a success given not only Government’s disposition but more importantly Malta’s business environment which has gained a reputation for being so innovative and investor-friendly,” he said.
Jaeger explained how MIA’s share-holding in VISET and equally as major business partners with the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) “have since ensured that the expertise and technical know-how of the respective entities are shared and essentially complemented to streamline marketing efforts and operations of the tourism industry.
“Nevertheless such considerations are not translated merely in financial terms, but more importantly are integral part of our direct contribution towards the development of tourism in general,” he insisted.
Jaeger said that MIA had “the necessary infrastructure, facilities and expertise to offer a seamless experience for passengers travelling through the airport and proceeding to commence a cruise in Malta.
“Our marketing policies to attract new airlines and to open new routes, especially in the lean and shoulder months, have increased Malta’s connectivity to Europe and beyond and have enhanced further the possibilities to establish Malta as an ideal port.
“We have facilitated in no small measure operations from new routes such as the Iberian Peninsula, Scandinavia, Germany and Northern Italy and the UK.
“Furthermore the recently extended network of a reliable home carrier such as Air Malta as well as other legacy airlines and the advent of additional airlines have helped to ensure the connectivity to major European airport hubs.”
Both infrastructures are and have always been gateways to the world, places of vital economic interest for entire regions. Even today ports and airports are very powerful elements of economic power,” Jaeger insisted.