The Malta Tourism Authority recently participated in the IMEX Fair in Frankfurt together with a team from the national airline Air Malta and 23 Maltese partners including hotels, meeting venues, Destination Management Companies and suppliers who once more successfully showcased the varied MICE offerings of the Maltese Islands.
IMEX in Frankfurt is one of the world’s leading International exhibitions for Incentive Travel, Meetings and Events.
Apart from numerous meetings and successful presentations to buyers, a varied entertainment programme was held on the Malta stand, attracting a large number of visitors.
A Malta trip sponsored by Air Malta, Hilton Malta and DMC Alpine Sterling was raffled and in addition - Frank O’Neill, a signature artist, created unique sketches out of signatures.
The popular Malta Café just next to the Malta stand was again the perfect location to meet, discuss business and savour traditional Maltese delicacies.
Over 3,900 hosted buyers from 75 countries had attended the show (amongst an overall visitor total of nearly 9,000); 27% of them from long-haul markets, which is up from 25% in 2012. Day one had seen 3,000 hosted buyers in the halls doing business with exhibitors – another increase on last year - with almost 3,400 on day two. This is due to the growing numbers of hosted buyers staying on at the show for between two and three days as part of a hosted buyer programme.
The Maltese companies all concurred that their participation in IMEX 2013 was very fruitful and that plenty of interest was shown by overseas buyers and conference organizers in what Malta and Gozo have to offer in this sector.
This positive sentiment has been confirmed by Mr. Josef Formosa Gauci - the CEO of the Malta Tourism Authority - who was present at the show in Frankfurt as well. In his briefing Mr Formosa Gauci said “The Maltese Islands have seen a steady flow of incentive and conference events – and despite the global economic scenario, we have witnessed a small but sustained increase over the past three years. We need to stay on top of our game and listen to what the client wants in order to further grow this sector”.