The Gibraltar Tourist Board (GTB) will be participating in this year’s edition of the ‘Routes Europe’ forum which takes place in Marseille, France between 6th-8thApril.

The three-day event brings together representatives of European airlines, airports, tourism authorities and provides opportunities for the discussion of new aviation route development proposals.

Over 1,100 aviation professionals representing 110 airlines are expected to attend. Six thousand pre-arranged meetings are scheduled with numerous talks by top-level industry speakers.

‘Routes’ is a private company which organises international networking events through its World Route Development Fora in key markets throughout the world.

Europe forms the largest regional ‘Routes’ event and is an essential gathering point for aviation companies seeking to conduct business to, from and within the European region.

Minister for Tourism, Neil Costa, said he was delighted that the GTB is attending ‘Routes Europe’ and other international gatherings of this nature with the potential to attract new business to Gibraltar.

Mr Costa declared that the Gibraltar team will be able to promote the airline facilities available locally to participating global company executives as part of his ministry’s concerted efforts to further boost the Rock as a tourist destination.

He added: “This event draws some of the most influential aviation professionals from across the world. It is appropriate that we should be attending what is considered to be one of the most important of its kind in the airline route development calendar, to see whether we can forge useful commercial contacts from which we can subsequently benefit.”

The event is hosted by Marseilles-Provence, the airport authority for the Marseille area which is recognised as the gateway for the south of France. It is among the busiest airports in Europe.