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MANY COLOURS Island of
As Malta celebrates its 50th year of independence, its popularity among British visitors, drawn by its proximity, winter sun, home-from-home traits and cultural attractions, shows no signs of waning, says Jeannine Williamson
M
alta’s long history has been shaped by many infl uences, including Roman, Greek, Arab, French and, lastly, British.
This year the Mediterranean island
commemorates 50 years of independence, but continues to retain the familiar trappings of red telephone and post boxes, driving on the left and beer sold in pints – all aspects that add to its enduring appeal for UK visitors. And the destination remains a popular
choice: from January to March 2014 UK visitor arrivals rose by 8.9% over the same period last year, continuing a year-on-year increase. A further boost to tourism is on the horizon in 2018 when Valletta, its compact capital, takes the crown of European Capital of Culture. Valletta is the obvious starting point for any
visit. The characterful city is renowned for its striking baroque architecture created by the Knights of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, who ruled the island for more than 200 years. Less than three hours from London, Malta has plenty of selling points, including year-round sunshine, a good spread of accommodation from rustic farmhouses to luxury big-name hotels – many with spas – and excellent facilities for walking and diving. The travelling distance and varied attractions provide a
wide appeal for families, couples, outdoor enthusiasts and mature travellers. Ricky Wason, Travel2’s General Manager of
Short Haul Product and Purchasing, said: “With Valletta becoming the Capital of Culture in 2018, it’s no surprise that the main focus for Malta as a destination is culture and heritage.” Only around one-fi fth of Malta is
“The Malta Classic Car Collection has pristine classic cars spread over two floors. A nice touch is that some are for sale: a museum where you can buy the exhibits!”
GARY BOYER, HEAD OF PURCHASING CLASSIC COLLECTION HOLIDAYS
which is 20 minutes away by ferry and a paradise for walkers and cyclists, or tiny Comino, also part of the Maltese archipelago, which is particularly pretty in the spring and is famous for its crystal-clear Blue Lagoon. Maltese cuisine is fl avoured by the many nationalities that have called Malta their home over the centuries, and this marriage of tastes produces an eclectic mix of cooking that will appeal to food and wine enthusiasts. With 55% of tourist traffi c booked as packages, Malta has a long-standing relationship with operators such as Belleair Holidays – part of Holiday Malta Belleair is the preferred partner for national carrier Air Malta. Head of Marketing,
developed; away from the resorts and towns lie stretches of countryside virtually untouched by modern designs. Twin-centre holidays can be combined with
Gozo, Malta’s green and quieter ‘little sister’,
Steve Stuart, said: “Malta has inherited a wealth of treasure from the many nations who visited her shores and makes for an
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