Culture and Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that the International Communications Cooperation and Public Broadcasting Services employees would start filming cultural attractions such as museums, temples, and local art valuables which people would be able to view on www.supercities.eu.

This website was set up by television and radio personality Joe Grima and also shared the support of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association and the GRTU, Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises. The company has already started to shoot hotels and restaurants around the island, which can be viewed on the website.

Dr Zammit Dimech said that there was a strong correlation between the number of tourists who visited Malta and the efforts made to attract tourists from other countries, especially with the introduction of low cost carriers.

He said that the vote for the coming year allocated to the tourism sector was of Lm16.8 million (EUR 39.1 million), of which the government was voting Lm10.5 million ( EUR 24.5 million) for the continued efforts of the tourism authority. An additional Lm2.5 million (EUR 5.8 million) are in the pipeline for low cost airlines, intensive promotional marketing and tour operators. The government was also allocating a further Lm5 million (EUR 11.6 million) for the improvement of the tourist package, which includes an investment in historical sites facilities, and the development of beaches, such as at Bugibba, Minister Zammit Dimech said.

More than 90 per cent of tourists who come to Malta visit Valletta, while 70 per cent visit Mdina and 28 per cent visit Cottonera, the minister said. It was important that a higher number of tourists who come to Malta visit the Cottonera, he added.