Nov 09 - Magic Festival Planned As Part Of GSLP-Libs Commitment To Events-Led Tourism
A magic festival is on the cards (excuse the pun). Samantha Sacramento, who has held the ministerial portfolio for Tourism, revealed this afternoon that plans are underway to bring a magic festival to the Rock as part of a drive to increase events-led tourism.
The announcement came at the conclusion of a press conference at the GSLP party office in town during which both Ms Sacramento and Mr Neil Costa detailed their achievements in tourism since 2011.
Liberal Party leader Dr Joseph Garcia opened the conference by saying that tourism was “one of the success stories of this Government.”
He highlighted the improvements to the Upper Rock’s tourist sites and the increased number of flight connections from Gibraltar’s airport as two positive changes that had enhanced Gibraltar’s tourist product in the last four years.
He said the new Bristol route was “doing extremely well” and the new Birmingham service had also been a success.
Ms Sacramento, who was appointed Minister for Tourism after last year’s cabinet reshuffle, said: “We are unique in what we have to offer as a destination.”
She said that, if re-elected, she would continue to promote Gibraltar at tourism industry fairs and engage in targeted marketing campaigns.
She also highlighted the increase in cruise calls. For example, she said that this year 207 cruises will call, bringing almost 300,000 passengers to Gibraltar’s shores. This represents an additional 27 ships from 2014, 12 of which are inaugural calls. MS Anthem of the Seas, one of the largest cruise ships in the world and the largest ever to dock at Gibraltar, also made its much-anticipated inaugural call in May this year.
She said that the number of calls reflected the confidence the industry had in both the Port of Gibraltar and its tourism product.
Mr Costa, who was Tourism Minister between 2011-14, emphasised the work done to renovate Gibraltar’s beaches and make them accessible to all. He said that Sandy Bay had once again become a popular family beach and that this would make Gibraltar more attractive as a destination.
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