Top Organisations in Malta Take Collective Control of the Nation's Profile to Drive its International Competitiveness

Malta Looking to the Future as the Global Battle for Inward Investment, Tourism, and Talent Intensifies

LONDON, March 30, 2010 - A new drive to coordinate the way in which Malta is promoted to the world
is launched today by top public and private organisations across the country.

Against a backdrop of global recession and increased competition between
countries, Malta is taking a unified approach to position itself as one of
the world's most unique and attractive destinations for inward investment,
tourism and talent.

The worldwide economic downturn means that increasingly mobile
global investors, businesses and job creators, with the power to make or
break countries and destinations, are now considering a far broader range of
locations.

The initiative, "Creating the Malta Story", is led by Dr
Michael Refalo, Malta's former Minister for Tourism, Culture and the Arts and
member of the UN World Tourism Organisation Strategic Committee. This unique
exercise, backed by 18 leading business, financial and tourism organisations,
aims to create a compelling identity based on Malta's unique characteristics.

London based destination specialists, The Communication Group
plc, were appointed to undertake the initiative and have spent several months
researching and evaluating the Malta story including interviews with Malta's
business, finance and tourism chiefs. The findings of the research are being
unveiled at a meeting with key stakeholders today.

The Communication Group plc has authored a number of reports
investigating new trends in destination development. Their research suggests
that intangible "soft" factors such as quality of life have become more
important in influencing business and tourism decisions. These intangible
assets are increasingly being effectively exploited by developing nations
throughout the world and challenging the more traditional destinations.

Dr Michael Refalo said, "A unified, authentic identity for
Malta will help us to stand out in an increasingly competitive market. The
Malta Story capitalizes on our rich and diverse 7000 year history,
passionate, well educated people, internationally recognised centres of
excellence and its position at the most southerly point of Europe. With this
initiative, we are securing Malta's place as a destination where people want
to live, work, and invest."

Emma Johnson, Head of the Destination Practice at The
Communication Group plc, who has led the assignment said, "Malta has a unique
combination of assets that can and should be harnessed to create emotional
connections in the minds' of both investors and tourists alike. For instance,
it is a sophisticated, stable, well run island nation, it has established and
successful institutions which punch above their weight, and it has a quality
of life that is hard to beat."

For information please contact:

Richard Evans, The Communication Group plc, +44(0)20-7630-1411

Charlotte Hastings, The Communication Group plc, +44(0)20-7630-1411

For information please contact: Richard Evans, The Communication Group plc, +44(0)20-7630-1411; Charlotte Hastings, The Communication Group plc, +44(0)20-7630-1411