| The 2007 Malta Air Show is expected to be the | | | | |
| best yet, with display teams from across | | | | After some years of a declining tourist |
| Europe, the US and possibly Canada | | | | market, Malta has been boosted by the arrival |
| participating. | | | | of low cost flights from London and Dublin, |
| | | | traditionally important markets for the |
| The air show traditionally comes late in the | | | | island. |
| Malta holidays season, and is a welcome late | | | | |
| boost for the island's tourist industry with | | | | Before the flights to Malta started arriving |
| aviation enthusiasts descending for the | | | | in November from London Luton, and in |
| weekend. | | | | February from Dublin, the depressed Malta |
| | | | holidays market was in danger of being |
| Despite some complaints from residents about | | | | relegated from a mainstream travel |
| noise and safety levels, the air show does | | | | destination to niche status, but the Ryanair |
| produce publicity and income for the holiday | | | | flights have helped to start a turnaround. |
| and Malta hotels industry, which in previous | | | | |
| years has been a welcome addition to the | | | | Estimates suggest that an extra 80,000 |
| island's fortunes as visitor numbers have | | | | visitors could visit Malta in 2007, bringing |
| slipped away. | | | | a real boost to the hotels in Malta and the |
| | | | island's economy overall. |
| The 2006 event was a truly international one, | | | | |
| as well as the Armed Forces of Malta | | | | 'When Malta is accessible,' comment local |
| participating, the French, Italian, Dutch | | | | destination guide YourMalta.com, 'Then |
| Swiss and Spanish all had planes and crew in | | | | holidaymakers will come. It's not just the |
| attendance, plus the British Royal Air Force | | | | weather in Malta, but the history and a |
| and US Air Force. | | | | friendly people that draws people.' |
| | | | |
| Among the planes taking part were two Alpha | | | | The increase in visitor numbers could see |
| jets from France, one of which performed an | | | | property price rises, with two international |
| aerial display, six F-16's with two Dutch | | | | estate agents who deal with Malta real estate |
| F-16's flying, and from the RAF two Harriers | | | | predicting a ten per cent rise in property |
| and two Tornados, with one of the Harriers | | | | values for 2007. |
| undertaking an aerial demonstration. | | | | |
| | | | As with most popular holiday destinations, a |
| Pick up points from around the island are | | | | percentage of tourists decide to buy a |
| available for spectators wishing to attend | | | | property in an area they like, and Malta is |
| the show, and on previous occasions this has | | | | no exception. |
| led to heavy traffic in and around the event, | | | | |
| again making some local residents none too | | | | The advantage Malta has for UK and Irish |
| happy about the event. | | | | visitors is that they drive on the same side |
| | | | of the road and English is spoken, and for |
| While the organisers might have been able to | | | | non British Isles visitors Malta has well |
| justifiably claim in the past that the air | | | | known language schools where they can learn |
| show formed an important event in the | | | | English. |
| calendar of tourist events drawing extra | | | | |
| visitors to the hotels in Malta, more | | | | A 2 bedroom apartment in the popular Malta |
| conventional aircraft have reduced the value | | | | holiday resort of Qawra is currently on the |
| of this for 2007. | | | | market for LM 72,000, and a three bedroom two |
| | | | bathroom apartment in equally popular |
| Ryanair Malta | | | | Mellieha for LM 138,000. |