MHRA has expressed its satisfaction at the news that Ryanair will be introducing seven new routes which will be operated from this summer. “These new routes will mean 16 extra flights a week, which for the summer alone, are expected to generate an average of 45,000 additional tourist arrivals, given the high utilization rate usually registered by the airline,” MHRA said.

“This positive news,” MHRA said, “is very encouraging for all tourism players and indeed the country, as it comes at a time when the industry is concerned about the potential negative effects on tourism as a result of the economic pressures prevailing in Europe, which represents Malta’s main source markets.”

The MHRA continued, it “has always maintained that a critical success factor to the sustainability of the tourism industry is increased accessibility. In fact the significant increases in tourist arrivals registered over recent years are indisputably linked to increases in seat capacity to our islands.”

MHRA President Tony Zahra said “These new routes will go some way towards increasing arrivals beyond the record arrivals of 2011, given that the rest of the seat capacity for this year is planned to similarly match last years figures.

Tourism will remain a major driver of the economy, benefiting a large part of the population and generating substantial revenue for government, and consequently is good news for Malta in general”

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