0 Things to Do in Malta - Travel Oh Travel

Relatively unheard of, Malta is actually a great place to spend a vacation or a few days off. It not only has the best coastlines and ports but Malta also has the best beaches from which you can conveniently choose. The best thing about Malta, however, is the archaic structures that predate even the Stonehenge and the Pyramids of Egypt.

1.  Excellent diving in Malta

If you are a diving enthusiast, then you must have already heard of the excellent diving opportunities in Malta. Located in the Mediterranean Sea, the waters in Malta are clear. Thus, it allows you to enjoy diving at its best.

2. Sandy and rocky beaches

Now, you do have a choice. A common connotation people have of beaches is that of a sandy one. In Malta, there are not only gorgeous sandy beaches but there are also rocky beaches, which are perfect for that romantic and warm moment you will want for your own benefit.

3.  Megalithic monuments

These monuments in Malta are even older than the Stonehenge and the Pyramids of Egypt. There are about twenty-three Megalithic monuments in Malta. Scholars have argued as to why these monuments can be found in such a tiny piece of land, but the point is that these archaic structures are plentiful in Malta.

4. Medieval cathedrals and palaces

Baroque-inspired structures can be found in Malta. There are also those made by the Normans. If you take a visit to Malta, make sure to visit to at least one of these well-preserved structures, which are, until present time, being utilized by the citizens of Malta.

5. Valletta's limestone buildings

Valletta is the capital city and port of Malta. It is also, where you can enrich yourself with the culture of Malta, both through the atmosphere of the place and the congeniality of the people in it. In addition, the structures and houses in Valletta are mostly made of limestone, something that will strike you as architecturally wondrous.

6. Mnajdra Temple of Malta

Standing strong for over 6,000 years, the Mnjadra Temple remains to be one of the oldest structures that can be found in Malta. Giant and primeval stones were cobbled to form a structure similar to that of a temple. As to what utility it gave to scholars are still debating upon the ancient people.

7. Qala tad-Dwejra

Located in Gozo, Qala tad-Dwejra is a one of a kind beach. Whereas the usual first qualification most people seek in a beach is its waters, Qala tad-Dwejra offers so much more than that. Only the spectacular coastline reminiscent of the ones you only get to see in movies pairs the clear and refreshing waters of the beach.

8. Legendary Gozo

Gozo is one of the islands that make up Malta. Whereas most of the buildings in Valletta are made of limestone, the structures in Gozo are built on hills. This is something you will definitely not see just anywhere, as hills usually make for a fragile foundation of buildings, but somehow though the houses in Gozo still stand sturdy and strong.

9. Mosta Dome Church

The church is famous for two reasons. One, it is largely unsupported, something obvious through its design. Two, it survived against a potential total destruction during World War II when a bomb failed to explode - a miracle, as the people of Malta see it.

10. Ghotto of Ghar Dalam

Malta's oldest historic site is the Ghotto of Ghar Dalam. It is purportedly where the oldest person in Malta can be found, dating to as early as 4000 BC. You will practically feel the historicity of the place when you visit it.

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Detail: Things to Do in Malta - Travel Oh Travel

0 2007 Malta Air Show Scheduled For Autumn

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 80,000 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 72,000, and a three bedroom two bathroom apartment in equally popular Mellieha for LM 138,000.

Detail: 2007 Malta Air Show Scheduled For Autumn

0 2007 Critical For Malta Holidays Future

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 30,000 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 85,000 visitors to the island in 2007.

'If Ryanair do deliver 85,000 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 85,000 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'.

Detail: 2007 Critical For Malta Holidays Future