The village of Mellieha, recently awarded by the European Union for being a European Destination of Excellence, is now promoting itself as an exceptional destination for all seasons.

In a twinning agreement with Cyprus, a brochure with information on places of interest in Mellieha and information on other tourist attractions in Malta will be distributed for free to all households in Cyprus, totaling 260,000 in all.

Also included in the brochure are details of the 11 hotels which inhabit Mellieha, all of which have all liaised together to create affordable and competitive prices in order to attract first time tourists on the island.

Attending yesterday’s promotional launch was parliamentary secretary for tourism Mario de Marco, who said that so far this year, around 16,000 Cypriots have visited Malta, with the figure expected to rise to 18,000 by the end of December.

“Tourism is not a part-time industry, but clever marketing and strategic plans are needed to attract visitors all year round. Mellieha’s hotels currently make up 14 per cent of Malta’s bed stock. It makes me proud to know that hoteliers and managers are collaborating with one another to make Malta an affordable and attractive place to visit.

“Roughly 12 sandy beaches are found in Mellieha, and together with its vibrant nightlife and entertainment which suits all tastes and ages, Mellieha is truly a destination for all seasons. To cap it all off, Mellieha is only a five minute drive away from reaching the terminal to catch the ferry for Gozo, and half an hour drive away from Valletta, Malta’s capital.

“However, having daily flights to and from Cyprus is not enough, and the distribution of this brochure will hopefully help attract more and more tourists from an island which is very similar to Malta but at the same time very different. One hopes that today’s agreement is the stepping stone for more future agreements to take place between Malta and Cyprus,” said Dr de Marco.

Mellieha major Robert Cutajar praised all hotels for not only participating in the promotional event, but also for lowering their prices and for setting up optional excursions, with the majority including daily pick ups free of charge to and from various excursions.

“Mellieha has been attracting a wave of tourists since the 1960s. Most flock to the village to experience the wonder of 7000 years of history, heritage and culture, while others visit to make the most of the village’s rural countryside and wide array of beaches it has to offer. After a successful collaboration between Mellieha and Ayia Napa in Cyprus last year, this year we decided to go one step forward and aim to attract Cypriots from all parts of the country. Hopefully this brochure will go a long way in making sure this happens,” said Mr Cutajar.

When asked on who will be funding the brochure, Mr Cutajar said that most of the money will be funded by the government, with the hoteliers and the Mellieha local council also playing their part to make sure that the brochure is distributed to every household for free in Cyprus.

On behalf of Salamis Tours, official agents in Cyprus for ROCS travel group, tourism manager Michalis Athanassiou said that since Cypriots tend to enjoy travelling in small groups, Mellieha’s rich diversity makes it a fantastic proposition for holidaymakers.

“Together with the excellent rates Mellieha’s three, four and five star hotels are offering at the moment, I am sure that thousands of Cypriots will visit Mellieha to experience the marvelous beaches and top-notch restaurants, nightlife and accommodation places that are on hand,” said Mr Athanassiou.