| Malta is set for her annual international air show to be | | | | of a package of other attractions to draw new |
| the best ever this year, with tens of thousands of | | | | tourists to the island. The first half of the year has |
| islanders and tourists attending the event over the | | | | been a disappointing one for the holiday to Malta |
| weekend of September 23 and 24. Making the event | | | | industry, with a drop in tourists for the first six |
| a truly international one, as well as the Armed Forces | | | | months of the year compared to the same period |
| of Malta participating, the French, Italian, Dutch Swiss | | | | last year. Commenting on the recently released |
| and Spanish will all have planes and crew in | | | | figures showing a drop in visitors, one independent |
| attendance, plus the British Royal Air Force and US | | | | travel guide for Malta believes that events like the air |
| Air Force. Among the planes taking part are two | | | | show should be promoted more. 'Malta needs good |
| Alpha jets from France, one of which will be doing an | | | | news', they say, 'and if potential tourists could see on |
| aerial display, six F-16's with two Dutch F-16's flying, | | | | a map of Malta of events quality displays such as the |
| and from the RAF two Harriers and two Tornados, | | | | air show it would be a good reason to visit the island. |
| with one of the Harriers expected to do an aerial | | | | The island needs to compete against other |
| demonstration. Ticket prices for the Saturday or | | | | destinations in the Mediterranean, but while most of |
| Sunday are low compared to many international air | | | | them are seeing an increase in visitor numbers, Malta |
| shows, ensuring access is available to many of the | | | | is showing a drop'. Many hoteliers and others in the |
| Maltese population as well as enthusiasts and | | | | holiday industry are hoping that cheap flights to Malta |
| veterans who travel from around Europe for the | | | | might become a reality in the near future. There has |
| weekend. Prices this year are 4.5 Maltese (around US | | | | been talk of low cost carriers from the UK and |
| $12) for either day, with public transport to the show | | | | Ireland providing services to the island for some time |
| available throughout the island. With the tourist | | | | now, but no deals have been struck yet. |
| season beginning to slow down, many of the hotels | | | | Unemployment on the island is high at over 8 per |
| in Malta see the air show as a tourist attraction and | | | | cent, and tourism is a major employer, but many feel |
| organise transport to and from the event. An | | | | that the government is reluctant to see the national |
| advantage of holding the show in the second half of | | | | carrier Air Malta face potentially subsidised |
| September is that the weather in Malta can almost | | | | competiton. But by doing nothing the island faces the |
| be assured to be good, with the all important clear | | | | danger of the whole tourist industry suffering. 'Malta |
| skies allowing viewing of the participating planes. Malta | | | | can be a high quality destination with low cost fares', |
| Map The air show is seen by many in the Malta | | | | comment the travel guide. 'We already have good |
| holidays industry as evidence that Malta can produce | | | | accommodation like the Malta Hilton, so potentially we |
| events which will not only prove an attraction to | | | | can do it'. |
| those tourists already on the island, but also as part | | | | |