34 malta
sandcastles, you’ll fi nd the perfect beach. Christianity: One of the oldest centres of Christianity, Malta is an excellent
destination for spiritual tours. Fantastic food: Flavoured by different nationalities over the centuries, Maltese
food is tasty and varied. Sensational spas: Modern, world-class spas offer hundreds of treatments from
ancient holistic therapies to the latest massages. Underwater spectacles: Some of the best diving in the Mediterranean, with
warm waters and exceptional visibility. Carnival: The dazzling February carnival season is an annual highlight in a
year-round calendar of events.
What’s new Airlines: This month (May) Jet2 (jet2. com) launches a new twice-weekly service from Manchester and weekly fl ights from East Midlands, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford and Newcastle. Ryanair (
ryanair.com) recently introduced
two fl ights a week from East Midlands. Operators: Malta is a new destination for Jet2holidays (
jet2holidays.com) with a programme of family and luxury breaks leading in at £287pp. Featured properties include the fi ve-star Fortina Spa Resort and InterContinental Malta. Gozo’s boutique Thirty Seven Hotel (
inntravel.co.uk), which Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie chose as their romantic honeymoon hideaway, has been introduced by walking and active holiday specialist Inntravel Four new hotels have boosted Superbreak’s (
superbreak.com/agents) portfolio. They are the three-star Roma and Imperial hotels in the resort of Sliema and Qawra’s three-star Sunfl ower Hotel and four-star Sunny Coast Resort and Spa, and agents can book accommodation only or fl ight-inclusive packages. Kirker (
kirkerholidays.com) has added a fi ve- night Heritage and History of Malta and Gozo
“In the shoulder months from November to March it’s easy to enter museums and other visitor attractions as there are no long queues”
IVAN CAMILLERI, REGIONAL MANAGER, CLASSIC COLLECTION HOLIDAYS
events and the fi nale of Malta Music Week, which attracts headline acts and an audience of 50,000. Malta Jazz Festival (
maltajazzfestival.org) runs from July 16-18 and international artists are taking part in the second Valletta International Visual Arts Festival (
vallettaviva.com).
Tourism talk
“The Maltese Islands continue to see an increase of British tourists year on year. We have seen a 6.8% rise in inbound
itinerary for November led by award-winning journalist and Malta expert Juliet Rix.
Accommodation: Valletta has several new boutique hotels that have opened in grand restored palazzos and converted historical buildings. They include Trabuxu Boutique Living (
trabuxuboutiqueliving.com), where the 10 individually designed rooms and suites incorporate original stonework and features, and 17th century Palazzo D’Orange (
palazzoprincemalta.com), used as a location for Steven Spielberg’s fi lm, Munich. Ideal for honeymooners and couples
celebrating a special occasion is Indulgence (
indulgencedivine.com), a stunning 16th century townhouse made for two. This summer the 170-room Maritim Antonine Hotel & Spa
(
maritim.com.mt) in Mellieha unveils a rooftop al-fresco
Thai fusion restaurant. Events: The free Isle of MTV
Previous page: Malta’s capital Valletta and the aquamarine waters off Comino. This page, Valletta from the harbour waters, the In Guardia parade at St John and a taste of Maltese cuisine
(
isleofmtv.com) concert on July 7 is one of
Europe’s biggest musical
sellingtravel.co.uk
tourist trips in January this year in comparison to the same time last year. Malta is a popular destination with the UK market because it offers visitors a safe and accessible haven that is suitable for all ages. Our wide range of diverse events happening throughout the year and a mild temperate climate mean it’s the perfect place to visit during winter or summer.” “We want to continue increasing awareness around the sustainability of the island and eco-friendliness, and encourage outdoor specifi c travel to the islands. “We are also keen to promote Malta’s appeal to all types of clients, including highlighting the island as a honeymoon and multi-generational destination. “Other marketing areas include the gastronomic aspects of the islands and the many distinct regions and terrains, including Gozo and Comino. “We support agents by working closely with the local
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