Low Cost Airlines Help Malta Beat Recession
While the recession in Europe hit her travel industry hard, Malta weathered the storm well as low cost airlines offered budget flights to the holiday island.
While the number of visitors to Malta dropped in 2009, it was less than comparable islands in the Mediterranean such as Cyprus.
Before the economic downturn the number of passengers taking flights in the EU rose by 7 per cent in 2008, but Malta’s rise was over 10 per cent, showing the island wasn’t increasing arrivals just because the number of holidays before the recession kicked in was rising anyway – Malta got more than her share of the holidays taken in the EU countries.
Altogether Malta had 2,900,000 passengers arrive at Luqa Airport two years ago, with just 300,000 of those coming from outside the EU’s 27 member countries.
Britain has been historically Malta’s biggest market due to the military presence up until the 1970’s with many British servicemen and women liking the island to make return flights to Malta at their own expense for holidays when back in civilain life.
Getting to Malta is now an easy thing for the average British national. A trip to Malta from the U.K. is a three hour flight. Gone are the days when it was just Malta’s national airline offering expensive flights to Malta from just a handful of airports – low cost airlines have transformed Malta from an island with a dying holidays trade saddled with an awful national airline and clueless tourist bureaucracy to a thriving holidays and hotels industry.
Malta offers a great climate, and one of the highest levels of sunshine in Europe. It has become a popular spot with families who love the weather in Malta. There are a number of resorts and beaches to suit just about anyone regardless of income levels. There are numerous bars, clubs and restaurants, where you can mingle with the locals and unwind. Malta makes a great weekend getaway thanks to the budget airlines making flights to Malta affordable, with lots to see and do before the three-hour trip back to the U.K.
If you like history you will love visiting Malta! On the island you’ll find remnants of the earliest civilizations. Many make this a holidays destination in order to see the Neolithic Temples. These magnificent structures are a true achievement unparalleled. The gravity of the magnificence can only be appreciated after the realisation that the 20 ton blocks used to create the temples had to be moved around the rocky landscape of the island.
For a taste of the more modern side of the St. Paul’s Bay region, there is the seafront at Bugibba, the hub of nightlife in the area. Here, there are a selection of trendy boutiques and restaurants. When the sun sets, Malta can go down market as well as up market and there are karaoke bars in Bugibba, but there is also the casino and a cinema.
Portomaso is a waterfront development that has luxury accommodation, clubs and exciting activities. The primary goal of the developers of Portomaso was to become one of the most prestigious locations in all of Malta and the Mediterranean. Most attractions in the Portomaso area include activities for children as well as for adults.
The Portomaso Marina is a relatively small marina dedicated to the ultimate convenience and pleasure of the boaters docked there. For the last ten years the marina, comprised of three basins, has provided a safe haven for boats of varying sizes. The south and west basins accommodate sailboats and motorboats up to 52 feet long. The south basin has space to accommodate 45 boats, and the west basin accommodates up to 60 boats. The north basin primarily accommodates small watercraft. However, larger boats and yachts may be docked on the quayside at the inner fairway. The marina provides around-the-clock security, pump facilities and hot and cold showers for yacht owners’ convenience.
Whhether it’s the modern or the past that attracts visitors to Malta, with lower cost flights to Viagra Professional Malta now available the island msd propecia looks forward to welcoming tourists in 2010.
Author Bio: Malta’s international airport with other holiday in Malta information can be accessed when visiting yourmalta.com
Other details include the climate and a 5 day weather in Malta forecast plus travel news via an active Malta blog
Category: Recreation and Leisure/Travel/Air Levitra Professional Travel
Keywords: Malta, flights, budget airlines, tourism, holidays