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2007 Critical For Malta Holidays Future
isitor numbers have been withdraw the island from their
in decline on the 2007 brochures, and a survey in
Mediterranean island of the island's biggest market
Malta, but the hope is that 2007 showed that Malta would be more
will see new life breathed into expensive for British tourists
her hotel and holidays industry. than the Canary and Balearic
Islands for equivalent holidays
The Malta hotels and holiday next year.
industry are major players in the
island's economy, and with But more recent news has brought
unemployment already high, a hope to the Malta holidays market
further drop in the number of that 2007 will see an arrest in
visitors next year could have a the decline of visitor numbers
negative impact not just in seen this year, with MyTravel
tourism but for Malta as a whole. surprising the holidays in Malta
market by announcing an increase
Throughout the year the monthly in the number of winter visitors
statistics for the number of it will be taking from the UK to
tourists visiting Malta have made Malta.
depressing reading for the Malta
hotels, and the next twelve But the most positive news has
months will be pivotal as to come from low cost carrier
whether the island can stay in RyanAir, who have started flights
the mainstream of holiday to Malta from London and Dublin.
destinations, or be relegated to
niche travel status. Between announcing the Dublin and
London routes and the maiden
The island was rife with rumours flight to Malta, Ryanair sold
earlier in the year that a UK 30,000 tickets. And the new
tour operator was going to competition has spurred Air
Malta, the island's national government seem to to make life
airline, to make offers of its as difficult as possible for the
own. A successful campaign saw island's hotel owners and those
two tickets a minute being sold involved in the holiday industry.
recently. A privately run company like
Ryanair will achieve more and
'This is all good news,' say bring more money on to the island
Malta hotels and holidays guide than the Tourist Authority can
http://www.yourmalta.com, ever dream of. And Ryanair will
'Earlier in the year it looked probably make a profit out of it
like there was only one way that while the Tourist Authority is
the visitor figures for Malta using taxpayers money. We're just
were going for the future, and waiting for the first set of
that was in a continuing downward figures where tourism has risen,
spiral.' and for the Malta Tourist
Authority to claim part or all of
At one stage earlier in the year the credit. In reality if tourist
there were real doubts cast upon figures do rise it's despite the
whether the Malta Government Tourist Authority, and not
would approve the new low cost because of it'.
flights at all. Air Malta is a
major employer and some in the Travel To Malta
tourist sector felt that too much
of a protectionist attitude was Speaking on a visit to Malta
being taken at the expense of a recently, Ryanair's Chief
possible upswing in new visitors. Executive Michael O'Leary
declared himself pleased with
'Unfortunately,' continue their new Luton route, and
YourMalta, 'The Malta Tourist predicted that their Dublin
Authority and The Malta route, due to start operating in
February, would be even more economy, and increased visitor
successful. He believes that numbers often correlate to an
Ryanair could take some 85,000 increase in Malta property
visitors to the island in 2007. prices.
'If Ryanair do deliver 85,000 According to Tribune Properties,
visitors to Malta in 2007 it will a UK based company who specialise
stop the perpetual decline in in Malta properties for sale,
overall tourist numbers,' say property inflation could be in
YourMalta, 'It depends of course double digits next year.
on whether a large number will be
new visitors or simply those who 'Malta property buyers from
would have visited Malta anyway. overseas start as tourists, and
We believe the likelihood is that with new tourists arriving next
a good deal of the 85,000 will be year in increased numbers we do
new visitors who hadn't expect this to have some impact
considered a Malta holiday on the market overall. The Malta
before. With Air Malta fighting weather is always a plus point
back and having successful when potential buyers are
promotions too there is every considering where to buy a
reason to feel confident that holiday home. But ease of access
2007 will prove to be a good year is a critical factor, and with
for Malta tourism. Hopefully it the new flights at reduced prices
will prove to be a turning point it makes spending a few long
and not a delay in the downward weekends on Malta as well as the
spiral of the last few years'. traditional week and fortnight
holiday a realistic possibility
The real estate industry in Malta for more people.'
also produces a good deal of
inward investment for the Malta Travel guide YourMalta do offer a
cautionary note, urging the Malta on a par with the rest of Europe,
authorities to invest in better but if they step outside to
roads and other infrastructure. dangerous pavements, unclean
beaches and a timeshare tout
'It's important that around every corner ready with a
holidaymakers want to return to high pressure sales pitch they
the island in future years, and won't return. Hopefully the Malta
not just visit once - never to Tourist Authority will be doing
look at a holiday brochure and a as much as they can ensure a
map of Malta with good memories pleasant Malta holiday
and return. The Malta hotels are experience'.
About the Author:
For hotels in Malta , news, Malta articles, reviews and the weather in Malta visit YourMalta.com
Read more articles by: Roger Munns
Article Source: www.iSnare.com |
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