Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1135150
17 COMMERCIAL maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 26 JUNE 2019 THE Malta International Wine Festival is Malta's first exclu- sive international wine fes- tival. The festival focuses on showcasing wines from Malta and around the world. Whether you're a seasoned expert or an intrigued begin- ner, winemakers and winery representatives welcome you as they pair their useful knowl- edge with exquisite samples of their art. Visitors are able to buy wine by the glass or by the bottle from over 100 in- ternational wines available at the wine experiences set by Cospicua's waterfront. Learn about the art of wine making, sample some of the best wines, meet notable wine makers and enjoy gastronomy and live music all in a breath- taking setting at Dock 1, Cospicua. For either the experienced wine lover or the novice, the festival has something to please every palate and pock- etbook, with incessant engage- ments and an exciting experi- ence. The festival includes an on- site liquor store that allows consumers to buy wines at the festival, which tickle their taste buds. Short talks by professional sommeliers will take place in a designated area delivering the knowledge of wines. The first edition of the Malta International Wine Festival will be held at Dock 1, Cospic- ua between the 28th and the 30th June 2019 from 18:00 on- wards. The Malta Public Transport Service will be operating on special routes while the Val- letta Ferry will travel continu- ously from Valletta to Bormla. Medasia Cabs will be offering discounts for those who travel to and from the event on each night. The Malta Tourism Author- ity's Executive Chairman, Gavin Gulia, welcomed the introduction of a new event, particularly one which is to be set in the lavish surroundings of Cospicua, as with one event the Maltese Islands would be able to promote its high level of wine production as well as a stunning part of the Islands. Dr Gulia thanked everyone in- volved for doing their utmost to ensure that the event goes smoothly. The Minister for Tourism, Konrad Mizzi, emphasised on the recognition which is being given to the Cottonera area with regards to high qual- ity events. The International Wine Festival is an event which is taking place for the first time and it is expected to attract both locals and tourists to the beautiful city of Cospic- ua. This is another free event for all to enjoy which we are supporting, while we would like to thank the Institute for Tourism Studies, as thanks to their expertise, we are going to teach guests through gastron- omy related sessions. I look forward to more free events for everyone to enjoy. This festival is being organ- ised with the support of the Ministry for Tourism, The Malta Tourism Authority, Southeast Region, Cospicua Local Council, Kottonera Foundation, CocaCola and Frank Salt. Over 100 international wines at the Cospicua Waterfront The Malta International Wine Festival THE tourism industry in summer will register a substantial increase in num- bers, and part of this is due to the Eng- lish Language students. The industry relies on the hospitality of the Maltese public, who is so wel- coming of foreigners and accepting of their diverse cultures, for this business to thrive and for these students to have a wonderful experience. The EFL industry is expecting encour- aging numbers for this coming peak season, with estimated arrivals surpass- ing last year's. In 2018 there were around 30,000 stu- dents visiting Malta during the months of July and August. The Federation of English Language Teaching Organisations of Malta (FEL- TOM) aims to ensure that member schools have an excellent standard in their cohesive offering, from teaching to student recruitment, facilities and safety, amongst others. Locally, the EFL industry has been op- erating for more than 40 years, and year after year it provides students the op- portunity to learn English and explore Malta. Malta is seen as a safe, accepting and hospitable country, and is seen very favourably when parents are deciding which destination they will choose for their children to learn English. Within this industry, various locals choose to host students and allow them to interact with their families, giving them the opportunity to explore Mal- tese culture in everyday life. In view of the increasing numbers that are projected for this season, the de- mand for host families is continuously on the rise, and FELTOM is encourag- ing families to open their doors to such an experience. Besides the financial gain, hosting a foreign student at home also enriches family life, exposes the hosts to differ- ent cultures and possibly even lifelong friendships. With this in mind, all stakeholders and residents in the busy areas are encour- aged to be kind and supportive to tour- ists and language students alike, since these students make part of the future of our tourism industry, while contrib- uting a projected income of €137.2 mil- lion to the Maltese economy every year. Part of this income also goes to the ac- commodation providers. More EFL students expected this year Around 30,000 students visited Malta during the months of July and August 2018