The Malta Tourism Authority would like to announce that it has nominated three local landmarks into virtualtourism.com’s quest to crown the 8th Wonder of the World.” Public voting is now open at virtualtourism.com, a leading travel research website that is part of the TripAdvisor Media Group.  The nominated landmarks are the Azure Window in Gozo, the Blue Lagoon in Comino and St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta, Malta.

With numerous Tourism Boards, Chambers of Commerce and Visitor Bureaus sending in a nomination, the public is asked to vote for their favourite landmark out of the more than 200 submissions.  Voters can visit www.virtualtourist.com to vote for these landmarks and have until 30th September to do so.  The wonder with the most votes will be crowned the winner.  The winner will receive exposure through a massive media relations campaign push from VirtualTourist.

 “It’s wonderful to have a nomination from every corner of the world and hence we are thrilled to receive these landmarks as a nomination from the Maltese Islands,” said Giampiero Ambrosi, General Manager of VirtualTourist.com.  “As one of the best travel guide resources on the web, members and visitors to our site have been to almost every country in the world.  We are eager to see which landmark they will choose to be crowned as the 8th Wonder of the World.”

Commenting on the contest, MTA CEO Josef Formosa Gauci said:”These landmarks are unique in their own way and represent the rich diversity offered by each of the Maltese Islands. The Azure Window in Gozo is a spectacular natural landmark, Comino’s Blue Lagoon is famous for its dazzling blue waters, whilst St. John’s Co-Cathedral is a gem of Baroque art and houses two Caravaggio masterpieces. We feel that each one of these nominees qualifies as a true wonder.”

To vote for one or more of the nominated landmarks for the 8th Wonder of the World, just visit  

www.virtualtourist.com/8thwonder