Sports in Malta
The online website of the Malta Tourism Authority has recently reported that a new Sports Tourism Scheme had been launched during a press conference held jointly by the Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism Dr Mario de Marco and Parliamentary secretary for Youth and Sport, Clyde Puli.
The aim of this scheme is to attract more sports based tourism to the Maltese islands. MTA and the Malta Council for Sport have created a joint fund worth €200-250k per annum, so that local sport clubs and associations can help attract more foreign athletes and sports people to train and practice their sport locally. For the launch of the scheme for 2009, the joint fund is of €100,000.
During the press conference Dr de Marco stated that according to research carried out by the MTA, around 80,000 tourists travel to Malta for sports, of which around 50,000 are for diving only. Although Malta is an ideal destination because of its accessibility to major European airports it was pointed out that there was still scope for development in this ever expanding sector. The funds available will be useful for clubs and associations to organise international seminars, training camps and competitions, thus attracting tourists to attend these events.
On the other hand, Parliamentary Secretary Clyde Puli, stated that this scheme had two main benefits. Namely: the clubs and associations could help bring more tourists to Malta, whilst benefiting from funds per bed night generated thorough these events as also from the experience of meeting international athletes and clubs. The Hon. Puli stated that around 60,000 bed nights were generated over a 3 year span from 2006 - 2008 by sport tourists who visited Malta for sporting events registered with the Malta Sports Council. This figure did not include private events or the diving industry.
Importantly, both politicians stated that this scheme is in line with Government's policy to attract international events, not merely as sporting events, but in the shape of conferences, seminars and training camps, which could serve to attract tourists in what are considered off peak and quiet months.