| Flying times of over three hours from their | | | | overseas buyers becomes more of a reality. |
| main market has always meant Malta has a | | | | |
| starting disadvantage compared to her main | | | | One UK company dealing with property in Malta |
| holiday competitors of Spain and her islands. | | | | thinks that property prices could rise in |
| | | | 2007. |
| But Malta does appeal to visitors from the | | | | |
| British Isles who want a holiday in the | | | | 'With lower fares, Malta becomes a |
| Mediterranean with a location that speaks | | | | destination viable for 3 and 4 days trips a |
| English and drives on the left. | | | | few times a year from the UK, and that will |
| | | | attract buyers to look at Malta in the same |
| And for this both the islands of Malta and | | | | way they do France and Spain when considering |
| Cyprus fit the bill. | | | | where to buy a holiday home abroad. The Malta |
| | | | weather and low fares could be a magnet for |
| Malta is a slightly shorter flying time from | | | | buyers.' |
| the UK than Cyprus, but critically the UK has | | | | |
| a large Greek Cypriot community able to urge | | | | There is a warning however from a Malta |
| friends and work colleagues to take a first | | | | tourist guide that property prices on the |
| holiday to the island. | | | | island might not necessarily escalate in the |
| | | | same way that regions of France have seen |
| But importantly Cyprus has beaten Malta on | | | | when low cost airlines have started flying to |
| price in recent years, and a recent report by | | | | their region. |
| the World Economic Forum indicates that 2007 | | | | |
| will see no change. Indeed the report says | | | | 'The Malta government has allowed more land |
| that as well as Cyprus, Greece, Portugal and | | | | to be used for property, and we anticipate a |
| Spain are all set to be cheaper for UK | | | | lot more apartment blocks being built short |
| holidaymakers than Malta this year. | | | | and medium term. Supply might well meet |
| | | | demand. Unless the Malta map changes |
| The new report says as well as price, Malta's | | | | politically and with it a change of policy |
| environment acts as a deterrent to many | | | | towards her environment, there is a danger of |
| potential tourists. | | | | Malta becoming the Tower Hamlets of the |
| | | | Mediterranean, or 1970's Spain where |
| The report comes as a surprise to many on the | | | | development spoiled much of the coast.' |
| island as low cost flights started in | | | | |
| November 2005 from London's Luton Airport, | | | | Concern has also been expressed on the island |
| and in February from Dublin with Ryannair, | | | | about the infrastructure, with some tourists |
| while competitor Air Malta have a new route | | | | and potential property investors berating the |
| from Liverpool. | | | | state of the roads and - compared to mainland |
| | | | European and UK standards - dangerous |
| 85,000 extra tourists could be visiting Malta | | | | construction sites. |
| in 2007 due to the new low cost routes, and | | | | |
| anything below this figure will be | | | | 'The real winners from the low cost flights |
| disappointing for the island's hotels and | | | | could be the Malta hotels rather than the |
| holidays industry. | | | | property industry', conclude the guide. 'We |
| | | | envisage a lot more people taking short three |
| House Price Rise | | | | and four day Malta holidays, often booking |
| | | | their flights and hotels on the internet |
| With the arrival of more holidaymakers, the | | | | rather than via a traditional high street |
| possibility of increased property sales to | | | | travel agent office'. |