For the second consecutive year, Emirates is sponsoring the Travel Journalism Award category of the 15th Malta Journalism awards, organised by the Institute of Maltese Journalists (IGM).
Held for the first time last year, the Travel Journalism category rewards the work of Malta’s travel journalists. The winner will be presented with a trophy, designed by a Maltese artist and a cash prize of Lm150, as well as two Emirate business class return tickets to Dubai, including three nights accommodation in a five-star hotel.
The Emirates initiative follows a substantial increase in travel coverage by the Maltese media in recent years.
There are three new categories at this year’s awards, bringing the total number of categories to 12. The finalists will be announced on Friday, 14 October and the winners will be presented with their awards on Monday, 14 November.
IGM chairman Malcolm J. Naudi pointed out that there had been a marked increase in the number of Maltese travelling to destinations such as the Gulf countries – in particular Dubai, the Far East and Australia. “Today, Maltese travel journalists are an important source of information and education both for leisure and business travellers,” he said. “The IGM recognises the growing importance of this branch of journalism and last year we decided to recognise this journalistic service by creating a dedicated travel category in our annual journalism awards competition.
“We are delighted that Emirates, one of the world’s most innovative airlines as well as one of the great business success stories of our time, has extended its sponsorship to this award. They join an impressive list of sponsors, comprising some of the world’s top brands.”
Emirates has been offering direct flights from Malta to Dubai since March 1998. As from this month, the airline will fly four times a week from Dubai to Malta via Larnaca, Cyprus, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, using an Airbus A330-200. With a destination network spanning
over 75 cities in 54 countries, Emirates’ fleet of 80 aircraft is among the world’s youngest. The fleet is expected to reach the 100-mark by the end of 2006.
Emirates manager for Malta and Cyprus, Paul Fleri Soler, said: “Malta is the first country in which Emirates sponsors a travel journalism award and it is a great satisfaction for Emirates to support the IGM. We see this as a good opportunity to support the IGM’s drive to further improve quality – in our case, where travel journalism is concerned.”
The Travel Journalism category, as well as the other categories, are open to all journalists, irrespective of whether they are IGM members or not, as long as their work has been published in print, broadcast or web media during 2004.