| With a considerable period of declining | | | | the possibility of increased property |
| visitor numbers in Malta, 2007 is | | | | sales to overseas buyers becomes more of |
| looking brighter with an upswing | | | | a reality. |
| expected in holidaymakers and long | | | | One UK company specialising in Malta |
| weekend visitors. | | | | property, agree that property prices |
| But where the government's tourist board | | | | could rise in 2007. |
| has failed to promote Malta as a | | | | 'With lower fares, Malta becomes a |
| destination, private enterprise Ryanair, | | | | destination viable for 3 and 4 days |
| the Irish based low cost airline, has | | | | trips a few times a year from the UK, |
| transformed the island's chances of | | | | and that will attract buyers to look at |
| remaining a mainstream vibrant | | | | Malta in the same way they do France and |
| destination in 2007. | | | | Spain when considering where to buy a |
| 'There have been some complaints from | | | | holiday home abroad. The weather in |
| islanders', comment a Malta travel | | | | Malta and low fares could be a magnet |
| guide, 'That the government or the | | | | for buyers.' |
| airport authorities have helped Ryanair, | | | | There is a warning however from |
| and that their costs could be lower than | | | | YourMalta that property prices on the |
| other airlines have had to pay in the | | | | island might not necessarily escalate in |
| past. But to be honest, compared to the | | | | the same way that regions of France have |
| millions poured into the tourist board | | | | seen when low cost airlines have started |
| that has produced declining visitor | | | | flying to their region. |
| numbers, it's a drop in the | | | | 'The Malta government has allowed more |
| Mediterranean and money well spent | | | | land to be used for property, and we |
| compared to the authorities past lame | | | | anticipate a lot more apartment blocks |
| efforts of their own.' | | | | being built short and medium term. |
| Official statistics appear to bear this | | | | Supply might well meet demand. Unless |
| out. | | | | the Malta map changes politically and |
| Ryanair started their London Luton to | | | | with it a change of policy towards her |
| Malta service in November. Tourist | | | | environment, there is a danger of Malta |
| numbers have picked up year on year | | | | becoming the Tower Hamlets of the |
| since then. In the month before Ryanair | | | | Mediterranean, or 1970's Spain where |
| started cheap flights to Malta tourist | | | | development spoiled much of the coast.' |
| numbers dropped by some ten per cent. | | | | Concern has also been expressed on the |
| 'If promoting Malta was left down to the | | | | island about the infrastructure, with |
| tourist authority, the island would | | | | some tourists and potential property |
| disappear from UK travel agent brochures | | | | investors berating the state of the |
| and Malta would be relegated to niche | | | | roads and - compared to mainland |
| travel status. The tourist authority has | | | | European and UK standards - dangerous |
| spent a lot of money on ineffective | | | | construction sites. |
| campaigns, and it has taken a private | | | | 'The real winners from the low cost |
| enterprise company like Ryanair to | | | | flights could be the Malta hotels rather |
| reverse the trend of less and less | | | | than the property industry', conclude |
| visitors. Perhaps Ryanair could offer to | | | | YourMalta. 'We envisage a lot more |
| take some of the people who work at the | | | | people taking short three and four day |
| Malta Tourist Authority on a six month | | | | Malta holidays, often booking their |
| secondment to teach them how to be | | | | flights and hotels on the internet |
| effective at their jobs.' | | | | rather than via a traditional high |
| Malta Property Prices Rise | | | | street travel agent chain'. |
| With the arrival of more holidaymakers, | | | | |