| Holidays in Malta could be off the list of | | | | time, while others who normally stay in hotels in |
| destinations offered by major tour operators | | | | Malta want to buy a property they can buy for |
| from next summer, according to press | | | | their own and family holidays in Malta, and see |
| reports.While nothing has been confirmed yet, it | | | | buying a property in Malta as an investment for |
| has been reported that at least one of the tour | | | | the future that they can enjoy too.With less |
| operators is seriously considering withdrawing | | | | people taking holidays in Malta, the number of |
| Malta as one of their destinations, and the fear | | | | potential buyers will fall too.Silver LiningWhile Malta |
| among Malta hotel owners and those in the | | | | hotels and the tourist industry in Malta wait |
| holiday industry is that once one holiday company | | | | anxiously for news, the withdrawal of major tour |
| pulls the plug on the island, others will follow, | | | | operators from the island might not be all bad |
| relegating Malta from a mainstream holiday island | | | | news, according to the independent on-line guide |
| offered by major travel agents to smaller | | | | for Malta, has been some discontent on the island |
| specialist companies.But First Choice Holidays, | | | | about the rising prices of property in Malta, and |
| winner of the 'Holiday Company of the Year' | | | | with less overseas buyers the possibility of prices |
| travel award in 2002, 2003 and 2004 and one of | | | | falling and more islanders being able to get on the |
| the UK's best known holiday companies have told | | | | property ladder could be welcome news.In addition |
| the independent Malta travel guide that despite | | | | to lower property prices, YourMalta feel that |
| being named in the Malta press as the company | | | | projections of a collapse in the island's holiday |
| most likely to do so they have never said they | | | | market if tour operators did withdraw could be |
| were pulling out of the Malta holiday market, but | | | | exaggerated.'While the loss of the tour operators |
| did admit that the Malta market was 'increasingly | | | | bringing tourists to the island is significant, in time |
| difficult' to sale.Malta has been struggling for some | | | | the island will be less reliant on their business as |
| years to adapt to the modern traveller, but | | | | more and more people make independent travel |
| government figures released for March showed a | | | | plans through the internet, and book their flights |
| year on year drop in tourists of nearly 10 | | | | and hotels in Malta independently of traditional |
| percent, and most worrying of all was that the | | | | holiday companies.Malta tends to attract the older |
| number of tourists arriving from the UK, Malta's | | | | tourist, so it might take longer than somewhere |
| main market, fell by over 13 per cent, and visitors | | | | like Ibiza for example which attracts a younger |
| from Italy, a market the Tourist Office had been | | | | visitor who as a group are more internet friendly', |
| trying to cultivate also fell.Holidays in Malta and the | | | | states Managing Director Roger Munns, 'but in |
| related tourist sector are a major source of | | | | time when the internet is seen as the primary |
| employment in Malta, and with unemployment | | | | source of booking a holiday across the age range, |
| running at over 8 per cent any fall in tourists | | | | Malta will stand as much chance as anywhere of |
| could spell long term damage to the island's | | | | attracting tourists.There has been speculation for |
| economy.Another sector of the economy that | | | | some time now that low cost airlines are going to |
| could suffer with the Malta holidays market is real | | | | start offering flights to Malta, and this will help the |
| estate.Property in Malta has risen in price in recent | | | | Malta hotels and holiday market as more people |
| years, and 2004 saw Malta achieving the highest | | | | consider three and four day breaks instead of the |
| increase among the EU countries, with speculators | | | | traditional week or fortnight, boosting the overall |
| buying property in Malta in the hope that joining | | | | number of visitors, especially if Air Malta and the |
| the EU would see Malta real estate increase in | | | | low cost airlines bring the cost of Malta flights to |
| value in the short and medium term.Tribune | | | | levels seen for the Spanish islands.With an |
| Properties, who specialise in Malta Real Estate, | | | | ineffective promotions board there is plenty of |
| view the potential downgrading of holidays in Malta | | | | hope still for the holiday market in Malta, despite |
| as a double edged sword.Managing Director Michael | | | | and not because of the Malta Tourist Authority, |
| Johnson says that many Malta property buyers | | | | who are failing to promote Malta in the UK in any |
| do so after visiting the island on holiday, and liking | | | | meaningful way. |
| it so much they want to move to the island full | | | | |