| A flight from London to Malta on December 26 has | | | | generally there is a danger that a lot of visitors will be |
| set alarm bells ringing on the holiday island of Malta. | | | | one-off. If there's a lesson to be learned in Malta that |
| The flight operator, well known and popular airline | | | | the government and her agencies have failed to grasp |
| Ryanair, claims no flight was scheduled, while one | | | | it is that sustainable tourism is built on repeat visitors. At |
| newspaper said they had a photograph showing a | | | | the moment a lot of visitors from the UK see Malta as |
| departure board with 'cancelled' next to the flight | | | | a one-off trip'. |
| number. | | | | As well as Ryanair, it was hoped that easyJet would |
| The Malta tourist industry pushed for low cost airlines | | | | also start services to Malta, but the latest reports are |
| to be allowed to operate to the island in the hope of | | | | that talks have failed to produce an agreement. But |
| arresting the recent decline in visitor numbers, and | | | | brighter news has come from the island's flag carrier |
| agreement was reached with Ryanair, with the | | | | Air Malta. |
| inaugural flight from Luton in November. | | | | As well as at one stage selling two tickets a minute in |
| With a projected 80,000 to 100,000 extra tourists a | | | | a recent promotion the airline is starting a new service |
| year, the arrival of new flights to Malta has been | | | | from Liverpool in April. |
| warmly welcomed and seen by many as the saviour | | | | The property market will also be keeping a close eye |
| of the holidays and hotel industry, with a knock on | | | | on tourist numbers now that the new flights have been |
| effect for the property for sale industry to overseas | | | | given the green light. If visitor numbers do drop in the |
| buyers. | | | | medium term it could be good news for locals looking |
| The exisiting carriers, including the national airline Air | | | | to buy their first property. |
| Malta, have responded with offers of their own, and | | | | There has been some discontent on the island about |
| the price of flying to Malta has come down significantly | | | | the rising prices of property in Malta, and with less |
| in the last few months. | | | | overseas buyers the possibility of prices falling and |
| But what looks like a cancelled flight due to a lack of | | | | more islanders being able to get on the property ladder |
| passengers has sounded alarm bells on the holiday | | | | could be welcome news, as today's tourist is often |
| island. | | | | tomorrow's property buyer. |
| 'The Malta hotels and holiday industry was looking | | | | But now that low cost airlines are offering flights to |
| forward to the year ahead with a sense of optimism', | | | | Malta, this could help the Malta hotels and holiday |
| comment local travel guide 'The extra tourists being | | | | market as more people consider three and four day |
| brought in by Ryanair is a major boost for the island's | | | | breaks instead of the traditional week or fortnight, |
| economy. But if a flight has been cancelled just weeks | | | | boosting the overall number of visitors, especially if Air |
| after their service started we just have to hope that | | | | Malta and the low cost airlines bring the cost of Malta |
| it's not a sign for the future, and projected arrival | | | | flights to levels seen for the Spanish islands. |
| numbers haven't been wildly over estimated. Hopefully | | | | Malta has traditionally seen the majority of her visitors |
| there wasn't a flight scheduled at all rather than being | | | | from the UK, but this could be changing to a more |
| cancelled.' | | | | diverse mix in future years. |
| Holiday Season | | | | Last year saw a record number of visitors from Italy, |
| 'There is a possibility', continue YourMalta, 'That the | | | | and increased enquiries have been received at estate |
| introduction of the low cost airlines flying to Malta will | | | | agents across the island from Scandanvia, Holland, |
| merely delay the long term decline of the island's tourist | | | | France and Belgium, helping to increase the demand |
| industry. Unless money is spent on the infrastructure | | | | for Malta properties. |
| and improving the environment for the tourists | | | | |