Jean-Marc Murré, Director International Sales, Disneyland Resort Paris, is impressed with the number of Maltese who visit the Resort outside Paris each year, with figures practically doubling between 2008 and 2009.

After visiting the Resort’s local representatives, KD Travel Services Ltd, and the national airline Air Malta last month, he made it a point to visit a number of local travel agents who have so far not had the opportunity to meet Disneyland Paris’s management.

He also travelled in an electric cab with Disneyland branding, announcing that this branding would be updated to reflect the latest attractions at the Resort.

Although unwilling to give specific figures, M. Murré said: “Malta is an important niche market for Disneyland Paris with an increasing number of visitors each year. This falls very much in line with global attendance figures and I am convinced that the record figures registered last year – 15.4 million visitors and a hotel occupancy of 87.3 per cent – would continue to grow even this year.”

A contributing factor will certainly be the new attractions, including the launch of Toy Story Playland as an extension to Toon Studios, all the latest Disney characters, who are taking part in the live shows, including The Princess and the Frog, Lilo & Stitch, Finding Nemo, Cars, Ratatouille, Monsters, Inc and The Incredibles, and the return of the Michael Jackson show Captain EO.

KD Travel Services managing director Kenneth De Martino said his company’s relationship with Disneyland Paris dates back to 1993 when the Resort first opened. “Although Malta is a relatively small market for Disneyland Paris, it developed quite nicely, both in terms of individual passengers and group departures, where most of the local tour operators and the national airline Air Malta have always looked at Disneyland as a strong product.”

With the concept of short, frequent breaks taking over the local travel scenario, Disneyland Resort Paris is seen as an ideal destination. “KD Travel has a dedicated wholesale department that focuses on various products, including Disneyland Paris, fostering a healthy relationship with all local travel agencies,” Mr De Martino said.