Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/831240
II maltatoday, THURSDAY, 1 JUNE 2017 WE HAVE ADDED NEW ROUTES TO AND FROM MALTA TO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE CONNECTIVITY During this legislature, we added 9 new routes in addition to the 27 in existence during 2012, thus boasting an airway connectivity to 36 airport gateways. Also thanks to our achievements in tourism, Malta International Airport will be investing €78 million in various projects, including the extension of the air terminal, and other initiatives WE HAVE DEVELOPED THE LOCAL FILM INDUSTRY LIKE NEVER BEFORE We were the first to adopt a long-term, strategic approach towards ensuring growth in the film industry of Malta and Gozo. This strategy was based on a number of relevant parameters that are considered critical within the industry including the required infrastructure, financial incentives,our indigenous industry, employment opportunities, education, the ongoing development of skills, as well as screen tourism. A SUCCESSFUL CRUISE-LINING INDUSTRY THAT IS GROWING We witnessed the commencement of operations by a new cruise liner, the Mein Schiff 3, while the Mein Schiff 2 launched new homeporting operations through Malta to Malta cruises as from 2016. Meanwhile, in another important development, the P & O cruise liner Oceana was the second cruiseliner to start homeporting operations earlier this year. Cruiseliners brought to Malta a total of 683, 000 passengers in 2016, 12% more than in 2012. A survey commissioned by Valletta Cruise Port notes that in 2016 the industry registered a profit of over €90 million, 10% more than in 2012. A NATIONAL POLICY FOR TOURISM UP TO 2020 The publication of a national policy document for the tourism industry fulfilled two election promises of this Government: that of delineating a political and strategic vision for tourism leading up to 2030, and the setting of specific policies for Gozo. This document is an important step in our drive to place this industry on even more solid foundations, so as to meet the challenges, and fully exploit the opportunities, of the next years in such a dynamic sector. THIS IS A PAID ADVERT