New Jets Buzz Holiday Island

With visitor numbers static in recent years and facing new competiton former Eastern Bloc countries offering cheap holidays, the recent announcement by the Maltese government that negotiations were at an advanced stage with two low cost airlines has sparked hopes that the island will see an increase in the number of visitors, much to the relief of some in the tourist industry worried about the future of Malta as a holiday destination.

Even before the new carriers to the island land the existing airlines have been offering return flights at prices seemingly much lower than in the past to try to maintain their market share.

According to the online guide YourMalta.com airline negotiations have been tempered with the need for the government to see that the island's flag carrier, Air Malta is not damaged as it is one of the main employers Malta.

Traditionally, the United Kingdom was the largest market in Malta for tourist arrivals, which are often more than half of visitors to the island, in a given year, but some also see this market as an island in danger. And property buyers from the United Kingdom accounted for seventy per cent of Malta property sales overseas buyers in recent years, settling in Valletta, Sliema, St. Paul, Mellieha, St Julian's and Qawra.

A good part of the UK visitors and property buyers for Malta in recent years have been ex-forces who have served for the British during WW2 when Malta has resisted Hitler's Luftwaffe, and then in peacetime until 1964 when Malta became independent, who returned for the holidays.

But with the inevitability of this declining market a new type of holiday in Malta, and hotel entrepreneurs see Malta's future as less dependent on tourism in the United Kingdom, and to be more cosmopolitan vision.

Declining market and new opportunities

Tribune Properties, a UK company specializing in real estate Malta, say they have noticed more buyers making inquiries from other countries over the last year. In particular, they claim to have received inquiries from France, Italy and Germany.

'The United Kingdom remains the foundation for overseas property buyers considering buying property in Malta, but the overall percentage is reducing as more and more people in continental Europe have visited Malta, and I liked it so much I want to move for both full-time or island to buy a home for the holidays.

The arrival of cheap flights to Malta, although it could rekindle interest in the British three-and four-day breaks a few times a year becomes financially sustainable. If the airlines flying to destinations in Europe the number of buyers for Malta property could rise in the immediate and medium term 'explains Tribune general manager, Roger Munns.

For the tourism industry in Malta three four days the number will increase visitors a boost. It discusses the island club to extend opening hours beyond the current 04:00.

Clubbers in the UK are used to 06:00 and the closing may be discouraged from making a weekend trip with a three-hour flight only to find shorter hours available for parties.

'There are new opportunities for Malta, and for the island to decide whether to embrace them and get a new generation of visitors - or ignore them and lose a resource for the economy' agree YourMalta.com

'Malta has much to offer visitors besides being a Mediterranean holiday island. Malta has a rich culture and history, and can easily appeal to all generations from children to pensioners. More Italians and other nationalities are discovering Malta as a destination. Malta will become more cosmopolitan. And while some of the older more conservative residents are likely to be against a younger and more diverse mix of visitors from what they have been accustomed to see change as something to be afraid, we believe that the island will embrace the feeling as cosmopolitan, while maintaining the characteristics that make Malta a unique visit among her Mediterranean island competitors. '