Low Cost Travel to Malta

Good news for the holiday island of Malta hastimes ahead for the Malta holiday industry. As well
come in droves recently, following a period ofas the good news on passenger numbers from
decline in visitor numbers. Commenting upon thecruise ships, low cost airlines have started flying in
findings, a local travel guide says that while thepassengers and it should boost the number of
spending per passenger while in Malta is smallnew tourists quite significantly in 2007.'
compared to holidaymakers, it's an importantThe turnaround in the Malta tourist industry's
contribution to the island's economy.fortunes has come just in time according to some
'The spend is estimated at around UStravel experts.
$10,000,000. And while this represents an averageHotel and holiday numbers have been declining
of around $40 a passenger, and holidaymakersconsistently, and in late spring 2006 rumours were
spend considerably more, an important factor iscirculating on the island that one of the major UK
that over 80 per cent of passengers wouldtravel companies were about to withdraw Malta
consider stopping at Malta again, and potentiallyfrom their 2007 brochures, with the worry that if
that's a good number who would consider a landothers followed suit Malta would be relegated
based holiday in the future.'from mainstream to niche travel status.
The good news for Malta doesn't stop atThe pessimism of 2006 has been replaced by
increased numbers of cruise passengers, as lowoptimism for 2007 as new low cost airlines have
cost airlines have recently started flying to thealready started delivering passengers to the island,
island.with some estimates suggesting that close to
'It's been a while since we've been able to say100,000 visitors extra is on the cards for the
this,' comments YourMalta, 'but there are excitingyear ahead.