United star renews tourism promotion contract
Big rise in arrivals from Manchester
Manchester United and England football star Gary Neville yesterday described Malta as his second home.
"One of the best things about Malta is the great welcome you get. You can have the most fantastic holiday resort but if the people do not welcome and treat you well there is no way you are going to go back," Mr Neville said.
"During the past few years Malta has seen a string of improvements that have put the island in a class of its own."
The famous footballer was speaking to members of the local and British media at Air Malta's Luqa offices before signing a second two-year promotional agreement with the national airline and the Malta Tourism Authority.
The number of visitors to Malta from the Manchester area has jumped from 62,000 three years ago to 96,000 last year and is expected to top 100,000 this year, said John Saliba, Air Malta Group head of marketing.
Mr Neville, who has been an official tourism ambassador for Malta since 2001, noted that the increase could not be attributed solely to his promotional work but mostly to the great efforts by the government and the Maltese.
As part of the deal so far, Mr Neville has featured in a series of Air Malta TV commercials. He was present on Malta's stand at the Manchester Holiday and Travel Fair and at workshops for travel agents organised in Manchester by the MTA and Air Malta in conjunction with the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association.
He is currently the attraction in the current joint advertising campaign carried on Manchester's trams put up by the MTA and Air Malta.
Mr Neville is a product of Manchester United's prolific youth team. Aged 17, he made his debut with United as a substitute in the UEFA cup tie against Torpedo Moscow. He made his debut as an England international against Japan in the 1995 Umbro Cup.
Mr Neville owns a home in Malta where he also runs the Gary Neville football school.
"The school makes me proud. It is amazing to see 400 children on the football pitch.
"It is an honour to be connected so closely with Malta. Members of the local Manchester United fan club are perhaps even more fanatical than British fans.
"It's great to see Maltese flags wherever United are playing international matches," Mr Neville said.