Malta Tourism Authority show that the total amount of tourists who visited the Maltese Islands in 2012 specifically for diving stood at around 85,000 people, an estimated 10,000 of whom were Germans.
The Maltese Islands offer some unique diving experiences with an abundance of caves and wrecks that make diving here some of the most interesting in the Mediterranean.
Recently we attended the launch of a pioneering new project in the village of Had Dingli, Malta. The area known as “Diar il-Bniet” is to become the first agritourism experience of its kind on the Mediterranean island.
Centred around a cafe, restaurant and grocery, Diar il-Bniet will provide an exciting platform for Malta’s finest produce to be sold straight from the farm, in an environment that celebrates the family tradition that encompasses farming in Malta.
While the project has already attracted vaunted interest and investment, Diar il-Bniet is keen to retain the rustic charm that makes it such a special and rare place. The site overlooks a shallow valley on the outskirts of Dingli, where one family has tended the land for generations, but only recently, with the advent of agritourism in Malta, has it become a viable option for the farm to open its doors to the public. The result is a beautiful example of Maltese artisan labour presented through a rustic, traditional and appealing medium.
Among the food that the farm produces, Diar il-Bniet boasts olive oil that would have the finest chef’s from around the world curling their toes. A Maltese staple that has recently attracted interest from names such as Jamie Oliver, the launch of this project is happening at a time where Maltese cuisine is arguably taking its place at the global table.
Britons will have the option of a new summer holiday destination to Malta, with the start of a new direct flight with British Airways to Luqa International Airport, BA said recently.
The daily service starts from 30 March, 2014 in advance of the peak summer holiday season. Hand-baggage only tickets in Euro Traveller (economy) will start from just £55 one-way, including all taxes and charges. Seats in Euro Traveller for customers who chose to take a bag including all taxes and charges start at £67 one-way and in Club Europe (business) one-way fares start at £274.
The new Malta route will be served by a combination of Boeing 737 and Airbus 319/320 aircraft.
Peter Simpson, British Airways’ director Gatwick, said: “We are delighted to be launching this new route to Malta for Summer 2014 allowing us to,return to the island, which we last served in 2009. We believe the convenient timings for the services will make the route attractive to tourists as well as those visiting friends and relatives.
“Expanding our leisure route network at Gatwick is fantastic news for British Airways customers, offering them even greater choice, along with our range of highly competitive fares, generous hand baggage allowances and great onboard service.”
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To keep with Christmas tradition, the High Commissioner of Malta in the UK has sent a box of Maltese oranges as a Christmas gift to Her Majesty The Queen at Buckingham Palace.
This tradition was revived during the High Commissioner’s presentation of credentials to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 10 June 2009. When Her Majesty received the Maltese diplomat in Audience at Buckingham Palace, she fondly recalled how the late Mabel Strickland used to send her a box of Maltese oranges to Buckingham Palace every Christmas.
This year’s six dozen oranges, which came from the gardens of Mabel Strickland’s former Lija residence ‘Villa Parisio,’ were presented in a hand crafted wooden chest purposely made in Malta for this occasion.
Four Heritage Malta sites have received a Certificate of Excellence for 2013 by TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site.
The National War Museum, the National Museum of Archaeology, the Inquisitor’s Palace and the Grandmaster’s Palace (which includes both the State Rooms and the Palace Armoury) have received the award which is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor.
As stated in the official website www.tripadvisor.com, “Winners of the Certificate of Excellence are located all over the world and represent the upper echelon of businesses listed on the website, with only the top 10 percent receiving the prestigious award. This means that these four Heritage Malta sites have constantly featured as top attractions by those who visited them.
To qualify for the Certificate of Excellence, organisations must maintain an overall rating of four or higher, out of a possible five, as reviewed by travellers on TripAdvisor. Additional criteria include the volume of reviews received within the last 12 months of the year in question.
Rai Due ha di recente dedicato una puntata di “Sereno Variabile Estate” alle isole dell’arcipelago maltese.
In compagnia di Osvaldo Bevilacqua si va alla scoperta di Malta e della sua capitale, La Valletta, dove viene visitata la Cattedrale di San Giovanni, testimonianza del grande talento del celebre pittore italiano Mattia Preti e dove è custodita una delle più importanti opere del Caravaggio: “La decollazione di San Giovanni Battista”.
In barca viene raggiunta la vicina isola di Comino con la sua incantevole “Laguna Blu” e si raggiunge, poi, l’elegante Gozo, isola paradiso meta degli amanti delle immersioni e famosa per le sue saline, conosciute già nell’antichità: una lunga distesa di vasche dove ancor oggi si estrae il sale marino.
Infine, Osvaldo Bevilacqua conduce i telespettatori nei i templi megalitici di Hagar Qim e Imnajdra.
According to an article published on The Telegraph (UK), at the peak of their Top 10 Places to Retire Abroad, sits the island of Malta.
As one of the smallest states in the world, Malta is also one of the most densely populated countries on earth – for good reason, too. With more than 3,100 hours of sunshine a year, an average temperature of 19°C and English as a first language for most people, it’s no surprise that many Britons flock to the Mediterranean archipelago. An interest in history, architecture, Mediterranean cuisine and love for anything related to the sea, would help residents here, but its small size could become a problem over the longer term.