| Leaders of over 50 countries from the | | | | in the economy overall. |
| Commonwealth will be meeting on the | | | | |
| Mediterranean island of Malta from November | | | | The timing of the Commonwealth meeting is |
| 25 to 27, and for three days the island will | | | | good as it's just before the New Year when a |
| be enjoying the attention of hundreds of | | | | lot of people decide where they will be going |
| millions of TV and online news viewers and | | | | for their summer holidays, and next summer's |
| newspaper readers worldwide. | | | | tourist could be next winter's property |
| | | | buyer. But they're only going to do that if |
| Malta has often been overlooked by | | | | they visit the island first, and I'm hoping |
| holidaymakers and second home owners in | | | | that Malta will see an increase in tourists |
| favour of other Mediterranean islands such as | | | | in 2006 - it really depends on whether the |
| Mallorca, Cyprus and Menorca, and hotels and | | | | island takes this chance to market itself in |
| estate agents alike on the island are hoping | | | | the months ahead on the back of the free |
| that the three days of publicity will boost | | | | publicity the Commonwealth will bring..' |
| tourist and property buyer numbers for 2006. | | | | |
| | | | The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting |
| With good all year round weather and an | | | | takes place very two years, and has its roots |
| English speaking population visitor numbers | | | | in the British Empire, with 53 members who |
| from the UK, which make up about half of the | | | | were former British colonies belonging to the |
| island's tourist numbers, have been | | | | organisation. |
| surprisingly flat in recent years, and with | | | | |
| cheaper holidays available in the new | | | | Queen Elizabeth II is the head of the |
| destinations from Eastern Europe such as | | | | Commonwealth, and will be visiting with |
| Bulgaria set to capture more of the UK | | | | Prince Philip for a two day trip to Malta to |
| holiday and property market Malta could see | | | | open the meeting on November 25 in Valletta, |
| tourist numbers remain level or even fall in | | | | the island's capital. It will be the royal |
| future years. | | | | couple's first visit to Malta since 1992, and |
| | | | welcoming crowds are expected in similar |
| Malta Holidays | | | | numbers to their previous four visits. |
| | | | |
| Malta missed it's own target of a modest | | | | In addition to the Queen and Prince Philip, |
| increase in tourists this summer, and there | | | | among the attendees will be the United |
| are worries on the island that the | | | | Kingdom's Prime Minister Tony Blair, and the |
| opportunity to increase awareness among | | | | Prime Ministers of Canada, New Zealand, |
| potential visitors will be missed. | | | | India, South Africa, Singapore and Australia. |
| | | | |
| Michael Johnson of Tribune Properties who | | | | 'Around half of Malta's tourists are from the |
| specialise in property for sale in Malta | | | | UK' adds Michael Johnson, 'and it's a similar |
| comments: | | | | figure for non islanders buying property |
| | | | here. As well as increasing holidaymaker |
| 'Malta is ideally situated in the | | | | numbers from the traditional UK market we |
| Mediterranean to attract tourists from all | | | | should be trying to appeal to people in |
| over Europe and further afield but for a lot | | | | Canada, Australia, South Africa and New |
| of people I speak to in other countries it | | | | Zealand and other countries who take a |
| isn't an obvious destination of choice. | | | | holiday in Europe to consider visiting Malta |
| | | | for a few days to sample the fine hotels, |
| The island has a strong domestic property | | | | hospitality, history and culture that the |
| market and doesn't rely too heavily on | | | | island is so rich in. But it remains to be |
| overseas property buyers like some of the | | | | seen whether the tourist board is capable of |
| Mediterranean islands do, but at the same | | | | translating good free publicity into visitors |
| time those that do buy here play a good role | | | | for the island. |