2010 Holiday Choices - Malta
With English as the main language, Malta has long been a popular tourist destination
for the British and Irish, and the island's holiday industry is confident of a good year.
Is the island worth considering adding to a shortlist of possible destinations for a holiday in 2010?
Malta consists of a number of islands. Only three of these (Malta, Comino and Gozo) are inhabited. Malta is the largest. Gozo the second largest with less than a third of the land its larger sister island covers. Comino, the smallest of the three inhabited islands, is just just 1.35 square kilometers. A number of smaller, uninhabited islands make up the rest of the Maltese islands.
Malta holidays have been popular ever since tour operators such as Thomson and Thomas Cook Holidays started offering trips there, particularly by British tourists. The country has many selling points to visitors, including being a wedding destination. It has even become, in recent years, a medical destination.
Its balmy climate is perhaps its biggest draw though. It is officially recognised as a Mediterranean subtropical climate. Temperatures vary little throughout the year, and the Malta weather is certainly a big plus. In fact, most of the islands' vegetation has no dormant state due to the consistent temperatures.
Malta holidays are most popular in summer. Winters, though mild, tend to be rainy. Even so, tourists from colder areas like to winter in the islands.
Malta found the need to shift its ability to generate an income to tourism during the 1940's after WW2. Prior to this the economy had been largely made up of shipping and farming, particularly tobacco and cotton.
Malta holidays began to be marketed in earnest when jet travel and package holidays became available to the masses in the sixties and seventies.
This heavy reliance upon tourism Euros has led to worry over this year's decrease in tourism. The statistics appear to be slight and can easily be put down to the recession in Europe, and in particular down to the UK, Malta's main market.
It could spell eventual disaster, though, if the trend continues in 2010. Even a few percentage points equal hundreds of thousands of Euros. Money like this makes a significant difference in a country of just over 400,000 people.
Apart from the Malta weather, the island has a long, rich history as a seat of culture and civilisation. The islands are home to dozens of ancient ruins and megalithic temples. These are almost as big a tourist draw as the climate.
The country may not have changed much recently, but its marketing strategy surely will. Malta holidays can be tailor made and can include activities that the islands are popular for. Malta holidays are often built around sailing, snorkeling, diving, swimming and other water sports.
Package holidays are also gaining popularity. Additionally, the newest trend, medical tourism, holds some promise for the country's economy.
It's likely that Malta holidays will evolve in 2010 in new directions to help bring tourist numbers back up. This may include new, lower priced packages and specialised trips for diving, water sports, etc.
The best deals on Malta holidays will probably be available with last minute deals. Hotels in Malta are anxious to fill more rooms to counter losses incurred during the recession, and for those considering a trip to the island there could be some good deals for this summer.
by: Henry Ashworth
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