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