| Brighter news for the holiday island of Malta has | | | | island's tourist industry. Unless money is spent on the |
| come in droves recently, following a period of decline | | | | infrastructure and improving the environment for the |
| in visitor numbers. | | | | tourists generally there is a danger that a lot of |
| Commenting upon the findings, a local travel guide | | | | visitors will be one-off. If there's a lesson to be |
| says that while the spending per passenger while in | | | | learned in Malta that the government and her |
| Malta is small compared to holidaymakers, it's an | | | | agencies have failed to grasp it is that sustainable |
| important contribution to the island's economy. | | | | tourism is built on repeat visitors. At the moment a |
| 'The spend is estimated at around US $10,000,000. | | | | lot of visitors from the UK see Malta as a one-off |
| And while this represents an average of around $40 | | | | trip'. |
| a passenger, and holidaymakers spend considerably | | | | As well as Ryanair, it was hoped that easyjet would |
| more, an important factor is that over 80 per cent | | | | also start services to Malta, but the latest reports |
| of passengers would consider stopping at Malta again, | | | | are that talks have failed to produce an agreement. |
| and potentially that's a good number who would | | | | Brighter news has come from the island's flag carrier, |
| consider a land based holiday in the future.' | | | | Air Malta though. |
| The good news for Malta doesn't stop at increased | | | | As well as at one stage selling two tickets a minute |
| numbers of cruise passengers, as low cost airlines | | | | in a recent promotion the airline is starting a new |
| have recently started flying to the island. | | | | service from Liverpool next year. |
| 'It's been a while since we've been able to say this,' | | | | The property market will also be keeping a close eye |
| comment the guide, 'but there are exciting times | | | | on tourist numbers now that the new flights have |
| ahead for the Malta holiday industry. As well as the | | | | been given the green light. If visitor numbers do drop |
| good news on passenger numbers from cruise ships, | | | | in the medium term it could be good news for locals |
| low cost airlines have started flying in passengers and | | | | looking to buy their first property. |
| it should boost the number of new tourists quite | | | | There has been some discontent on the island about |
| significantly in 2007.' | | | | the rising prices of property in Malta, and with less |
| The turnaround in the Malta tourist indusry's fortunes | | | | overseas buyers the possibility of prices falling and |
| has come just in time according to some travel | | | | more islanders being able to get on the property |
| experts. | | | | ladder could be welcome news, as today's tourist is |
| Hotel and holiday numbers have been declining | | | | often tomorrow's property buyer. |
| consistently, and in late spring 2006 rumours were | | | | But now that low cost airlines are going to start |
| circulating on the island that one of the major UK | | | | offering flights to Malta, this could help the Malta |
| travel companies were about to withdraw Malta from | | | | hotels and holiday market as more people consider |
| their 2007 brochures, with the worry that if others | | | | three and four day breaks instead of the traditional |
| followed suit Malta would be relegated from | | | | week or fortnight, boosting the overall number of |
| mainstream to niche travel status. | | | | visitors, especially if Air Malta and the low cost airlines |
| The pessimism of 2006 has been replaced by | | | | bring the cost of Malta flights to levels seen for the |
| optimism for 2007 as new low cost airlines have | | | | Spanish islands. |
| already started delivering passengers to the island, | | | | Malta has traditionally seen the majority of her |
| with some estimates suggesting that close to | | | | visitors from the UK, but this could be changing to a |
| 100,000 visitors extra is on the cards for the year | | | | more diverse mix in future years. |
| ahead. | | | | Last year saw a record number of visitors from Italy, |
| 2007 Fortunes | | | | and increased enquiries have been received at estate |
| 'There is a possibility', comment the travel guide, | | | | agents across the island from Scandanvia, Holland, |
| 'That the introduction of the low cost airlines flying to | | | | France and Belgium, helping to increase the demand |
| Malta will merely delay the long term decline of the | | | | for Malta properties. |