Vacations travel

The skies of Malta will welcome the Malta Air Show 2007 later this year
with display teams from across Europe
the US and possibly Canada participating.

The air show traditionally comes late in the Malta holidays season
and is a welcome late boost for the island's tourist industry with aviation enthusiasts descending for the weekend.

Despite some complaints from residents about noise and safety levels
the air show does produce publicity and income for the holiday and Malta hotels industry
which in previous years has been a welcome addition to the island's fortunes as visitor numbers have slipped away.

The 2006 event was a truly international one
as well as the Armed Forces of Malta participating
the French
Italian
Dutch Swiss and Spanish all had planes and crew in attendance
plus the British Royal Air Force and US Air Force.

Among the planes taking part were two Alpha jets from France
one of which performed an aerial display
six F-16's with two Dutch F-16's flying
and from the RAF two Harriers and two Tornados
with one of the Harriers undertaking an aerial demonstration.

Pick up points from around the island are available for spectators wishing to attend the show
and on previous occasions this has led to heavy traffic in and around the event
again making some local residents none too happy about the event.

While the organisers might have been able to justifiably claim in the past that the air show formed an important event in the calendar of tourist events drawing extra visitors to the Malta hotels
more conventional aircraft have reduced the value of this for 2007.

Malta Flight

After some years of a declining tourist market
Malta has been boosted by the arrival of low cost flights from London and Dublin
traditionally important markets for the island.

Before the new cheap Malta flight passengers started arriving in November from London Luton
and in February from Dublin
the depressed Malta holidays market was in danger of being relegated from a mainstream travel destination to niche status
but the Ryanair flights have helped to start a turnaround.

Estimates suggest that an extra 80
0
visitors could visit Malta in 2007
bringing a real boost to the hotels in Malta and the island's economy overall.

'When Malta is accessible
' comment local destination guide YourMalta.com
'Then holidaymakers will come. It's not just the Malta weather
but the history and a friendly people that draws people.'

The increase in visitor numbers could see property price rises
with two international estate agents who deal with Malta properties predicting a ten per cent rise in property values for 2007.

As with most popular holiday destinations
a percentage of tourists decide to buy a property in an area they like
and Malta is no exception.

The advantage Malta has for UK and Irish visitors is that they drive on the same side of the road and English is spoken
and for non British Isles visitors Malta has well known language schools where they can learn English.

A 2 bedroom apartment in the popular Malta holiday resort of Qawra is currently on the market for LM 72
0
and a three bedroom two bathroom apartment in equally popular Mellieha for LM 138
0

Visitor numbers have been in decline on the Mediterranean island of Malta
but the hope is that 2007 will see new life breathed into her hotel and holidays industry.

The Malta hotels and holiday industry are major players in the island's economy
and with unemployment already high
a further drop in the number of visitors next year could have a negative impact not just in tourism but for Malta as a whole.

Throughout the year the monthly statistics for the number of tourists visiting Malta have made depressing reading for the Malta hotels
and the next twelve months will be pivotal as to whether the island can stay in the mainstream of holiday destinations
or be relegated to niche travel status.

The island was rife with rumours earlier in the year that a UK tour operator was going to withdraw the island from their 2007 brochures
and a survey in the island's biggest market showed that Malta would be more expensive for British tourists than the Canary and Balearic Islands for equivalent holidays next year.

But more recent news has brought hope to the Malta holidays market that 2007 will see an arrest in the decline of visitor numbers seen this year
with MyTravel surprising the holidays in Malta market by announcing an increase in the number of winter visitors it will be taking from the UK to Malta.

But the most positive news has come from low cost carrier RyanAir
who have started flights to Malta from London and Dublin.

Between announcing the Dublin and London routes and the maiden flight to Malta
Ryanair sold 30
0
tickets. And the new competition has spurred Air Malta
the island's national airline
to make offers of its own. A successful campaign saw two tickets a minute being sold recently.

'This is all good news
' say Malta hotels and holidays guide http://www.yourmalta.com
'Earlier in the year it looked like there was only one way that the visitor figures for Malta were going for the future
and that was in a continuing downward spiral.'

At one stage earlier in the year there were real doubts cast upon whether the Malta Government would approve the new low cost flights at all. Air Malta is a major employer and some in the tourist sector felt that too much of a protectionist attitude was being taken at the expense of a possible upswing in new visitors.

'Unfortunately
' continue YourMalta
'The Malta Tourist Authority and The Malta government seem to to make life as difficult as possible for the island's hotel owners and those involved in the holiday industry. A privately run company like Ryanair will achieve more and bring more money on to the island than the Tourist Authority can ever dream of. And Ryanair will probably make a profit out of it while the Tourist Authority is using taxpayers money. We're just waiting for the first set of figures where tourism has risen
and for the Malta Tourist Authority to claim part or all of the credit. In reality if tourist figures do rise it's despite the Tourist Authority
and not because of it'.

Travel To Malta

Speaking on a visit to Malta recently
Ryanair's Chief Executive Michael O'Leary declared himself pleased with their new Luton route
and predicted that their Dublin route
due to start operating in February
would be even more successful. He believes that Ryanair could take some 85
0
visitors to the island in 2007.

'If Ryanair do deliver 85
0
visitors to Malta in 2007 it will stop the perpetual decline in overall tourist numbers
' say YourMalta
'It depends of course on whether a large number will be new visitors or simply those who would have visited Malta anyway. We believe the likelihood is that a good deal of the 85
0
will be new visitors who hadn't considered a Malta holiday before. With Air Malta fighting back and having successful promotions too there is every reason to feel confident that 2007 will prove to be a good year for Malta tourism. Hopefully it will prove to be a turning point and not a delay in the downward spiral of the last few years'.

The real estate industry in Malta also produces a good deal of inward investment for the Malta economy
and increased visitor numbers often correlate to an increase in Malta property prices.

According to Tribune Properties
a UK based company who specialise in Malta properties for sale
property inflation could be in double digits next year.

'Malta property buyers from overseas start as tourists
and with new tourists arriving next year in increased numbers we do expect this to have some impact on the market overall. The Malta weather is always a plus point when potential buyers are considering where to buy a holiday home. But ease of access is a critical factor
and with the new flights at reduced prices it makes spending a few long weekends on Malta as well as the traditional week and fortnight holiday a realistic possibility for more people.'

Travel guide YourMalta do offer a cautionary note
urging the Malta authorities to invest in better roads and other infrastructure.

'It's important that holidaymakers want to return to the island in future years
and not just visit once - never to look at a holiday brochure and a map of Malta with good memories and return. The Malta hotels are on a par with the rest of Europe
but if they step outside to dangerous pavements
unclean beaches and a timeshare tout around every corner ready with a high pressure sales pitch they won't return. Hopefully the Malta Tourist Authority will be doing as much as they can ensure a pleasant Malta holiday experience'.