short haul FEATURE: Malta
and is celebrated in towns and villages across Malta with the heart of the action, and a large procession, taking place in the capital Valletta, one of the world’s best preserved fortifi ed cities. And looking ahead to 2018, the UNESCO-listed city will be the European Capital of Culture.
What’s new Airlines: Monarch has launched
a new twice-weekly service fl ying from East Midlands Airport. Attractions: The €15.6 million Malta National Aquarium at Qawra in St Paul’s Bay is scheduled to open this year. The 26 tanks will include sharks, tropical fi sh and a spectacular walk-through viewing tunnel. The aquarium complex includes the waterside Cafe del Mar Malta. Based on the Ibiza cafe of the same name, it combines daytime food and evening cocktails and music. Hotels: Hotel Phoenicia Malta
has a new kitchen garden supplying fruit and vegetables for dishes served in the Pegasus restaurant. The tourism authority is spearheading the introduction of ‘palazzini’ accommodation that
Above left: Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz - the garden and the pool. Above right: Balluta Bay, St Julian’s. Right: traditional Maltese rabbit stew
will see historic buildings being transformed into small, luxurious boutique properties. Operators: Exodus has launched
an eight-day Malta and Gozo family adventure itinerary, including jeep and bike tours, snorkelling and a day on a farm making cheese, from £759 for adults and £721 for children. Ramblers Worldwide Holidays has introduced the four-star Antonine Hotel & Spa in Mellieha for its 10-night fully-escorted walking break on Malta and Gozo, which involves three to six hours of walking per day and leads in at £820. Planet Holidays has added more Malta properties to its wedding product including Razzett L-Abjad, a 200-year-old farmhouse surrounded by vineyards and olive groves suitable for civil ceremonies.
Tourism talk “The UK accounts for nearly one-third of all visitors. Out of 667,034 tourists from January to June 2013, 200,507 were from the UK, a 5.5% increase on last year’s fi gure for the same period. “Maintaining the natural beauty
of Malta and Gozo is of the highest priority and we have introduced a series of new walking and cycling tracks encouraging travellers to explore off the beaten track while minimising the carbon footprint.
64 September 2013
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“Malta Tourism Authority will be attending travel trade road shows in Birmingham, Manchester, London and Brighton this autumn, and we are thrilled AITO is hosting its Overseas Conference in Malta in November. It is an ideal opportunity to highlight the unique proposition of our islands to travel industry professionals and for them to get to know the islands.” Alex Incorvaja, UK & Ireland Director Malta Tourism Authority
Where to book it COX & KINGS – 0845 485 7452
A six-night private tour with three nights B&B at the Palace Hotel in Sliema, Malta, and three nights at the Kempinski San Lawrenz on Gozo leads in at £645pp, valid for January and February 2014. The price includes fl ights from London and regional airports,
sea plane transfer to Gozo and excursions to Valetta and the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Tarxien and Hagar Qim and, on Gozo, the main historic and cultural attractions of Calypso’s cave, Ta’Pinu church and the Ggantija temples.
coxandkings.co.uk BELLEAIR HOLIDAYS – 0845 365 3412 A seven-night B&B stay, at the fi ve- star Hotel Phoenicia, is from £549pp, with fl ights from Gatwick, private airport transfers and complimentary entrance to a selected Malta
attraction. Departures in February 2014. Regarded as the ‘grand hotel’ of Malta, the landmark property is set in seven acres of landscaped gardens at the entrance to Valletta and overlooks the harbour.
belleair.co.uk/agents
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