23 - 29 March 2000

Xol & Company launch first Maltese Internet travel portal

by Anna Maria Bartolo

The first Maltese Internet travel portal has been launched by Xol & Company Ltd. The new service means that local and foreign people can access the website xol.com.mt and browse through all the tours, cruises, flights and other packages organised by most local travel agents.

The system caters for both incoming and outgoing travel packages and all information is accessible free of charge.

During a press conference held at the company offices in Hamrun, company managing director Alfred Zammit that several links have been made with international websites and to every existing destination in the world.

Users can select any country they would like to visit and the type of travel such as tours or skiing as well as their preferred period of travel, such as May. The system will show all the different kinds of trips being organised to the selected destinations with the respective travel agent during the selected period.

Users can browse through every single holiday being organised by each individual travel agent. Each destination will expand to show each holiday together with full-detail information about daily excursions, places of interest, prices and other related information.

This method of providing travel information is similar to a brochure with the difference that the system is interactive, fast and including the latest information and links to live pictures.

There is also a list of countries one can use to find out more information about a specific location. "By selecting a country, users can view a map of the place together with information about its geography, government, economy and never-ending list of other information," Mr Zammit said.

He remarked that the travel portal had already been presented to Tourism Minster Michael Refalo who had said the new initiative will support Malta's tourism and allow for greater accessibility.

"Those lacking Internet access can visit their local council where they can browse through xol.com.mt on the Internet-ready computers recently donated by the company to the local councils of B'Kara, Cospicua, Vittoriosa, Tarxien as well as Victoria and Xaghra in Gozo," he said, adding that Dingli will be the next locality to benefit from this free Internet facility in local councils.

Ever since it was established four months ago, Xol & Company have embarked on various projects including a career portal and electronic commerce.

"xol.com.mt has registered 600,000 hits during the last four months," Mr Zammit said with reference to the website's success.

Xol & Company are also making arrangement with Bank of Valletta to introduce a local online credit card payment facility which is sent directly to the bank.

"At the moment it is not possible to buy products from locally based companies online with a credit card. Xol & Company will probably be the first company to introduce this facility in the near future," Mr Zammit added.