| 2008 should be a good year for the Malta hotels and | | | | silly to let the mood of confidence that's in Malta |
| holidays industry - last year was the best year for | | | | about the future be wiped out by profiteers looking |
| incoming tourism for 6 years, and the island joined | | | | to take advantage of the change of currency by |
| the Euro with some confidence on January 1. | | | | putting prices up unnecessarily.' |
| But a recent report reflects on what has happened | | | | 2007 was a turning year for Malta, with previously |
| to prices when other countries have joined the Euro, | | | | poor publicity turning to good press reports in the |
| and warns that Malta could see a rise in holiday prices | | | | media overseas. Both Germany and the UK have |
| compared to competitor islands who have already | | | | seen new low cost flight operators sucessfully |
| absorbed the impact of a new currency, or have | | | | applying to fly to Malta, and the increase in tourism |
| stayed outside the Euro. | | | | can largely be put down to them. |
| Malta decided to join the Euro shortly after a | | | | The good news for Malta is that despite the increase |
| becoming a full member of the EU, and the move | | | | in the number of tourists arriving on the island via low |
| was opposed by some on the island. Malta has a rich | | | | cost flights, the occupancy levels of hotels has |
| history of struggle to maintain her individuality, | | | | increased from basic to 5 star, showing that Malta |
| including surviving an onslaught in WW2 from the | | | | can appeal to all. |
| Luftwaffe and gaining independence from the UK, | | | | The optimism from Malta in 2008 is in sharp contrast |
| but the move to surrender the Maltese currency was | | | | to just a couple of years ago when some major |
| a voluntary one. | | | | holiday companies were considering dropping Malta as |
| The report comes from the UK's Post Office travel | | | | a holiday option altogether. |
| division, and is notable as the UK, despite increasing | | | | With a downward spiral in visitor numbers in |
| diversification of Malta's tourism base, is Malta's | | | | successive years, the Maltese government finally |
| largest market for holidays. | | | | relented to pressure from the Malta holidays industry |
| There is a warning that after Spain and Greece | | | | and allowed low cost carriers to fly to the island for |
| joined the Euro in 2002, they were among the | | | | the first time in November 2006. |
| cheapest European holiday destinations but not long | | | | It would be ironic if cheap flights which have |
| after they became considerably more expensive, and | | | | revitalised Malta's holiday industry didn't necessarily |
| if history repeats itself Malta will be among the most | | | | mean an inexpensive holiday this year in Malta due to |
| expensive holiday locations in 2008. | | | | profiteering by shops and businesses on the island, |
| 'Malta needs to keep an eye on prices', warns a | | | | and tourist numbers dropped. With the Euro doing |
| leading British based Malta travel site, continuing '2007 | | | | well against Sterling the Maltese people might reflect |
| saw a ten per cent increase in tourists compared to | | | | that they should have stuck with their own currency |
| the year before and was the best year for a while | | | | for a little while longer. |
| for the Malta hotels and holidays industry, it would be | | | | |