| European holiday destination Malta ranks as one of | | | | does it well because it's what the wealthy expect |
| the top five locations for safety in the world, | | | | - and they get it'. |
| according to an American travel writer, Laura | | | | Malta Holidays |
| McKenzie. | | | | The two surveys with positive news about Malta |
| In her report Ms. McKenzie says of the | | | | comes at a worrying time for the Malta holiday |
| Mediterranean holiday island 'In Malta there is no | | | | industry. |
| such thing as a dark and uninviting alley, while the | | | | The number of tourists visiting Malta this year is |
| police force is one of the oldest in the world'. | | | | down on previous years, and some predictions |
| The report also praises New Zealand, Switzerland | | | | are that it could be 100,000 less than 2005 - while |
| and Singapore as safe destinations. | | | | the Malta Tourist Authority had hoped to see a |
| Top was Monaco, with one police officer for | | | | similar figure in the opposite direction. |
| every one hundred residents, and 24 hour cctv | | | | But recent news of low cost airlines gaining |
| coverage of the entire principality. | | | | permission to fly to the island has given some |
| Commenting on the report, a local travel guide | | | | hope in the Malta hotel and holiday industry that |
| were not surprised that Malta reached Ms | | | | next year will see the decline reversed. |
| Mckenzie's top five safest locations, nor that | | | | Hotel and resort owners have seen the Maltese |
| Monaco was top. | | | | government drag the negotiations out with the |
| 'Malta has her problems with the state of the | | | | low cost airlines for some time, with delays in |
| roads and some other infrastructure, but when it | | | | agreements losing Malta the potential of having |
| comes to the people it's doubtful if you will find a | | | | extra tourists for this summer season. |
| friendlier more helpful island in the Mediterranean. | | | | Statements from Ryanair, the first low cost |
| This report from Ms McKenzie has come at | | | | carrier to be flying to Malta, indicate that at one |
| around the same time as another survey showing | | | | stage they were taking a booking a minute for |
| that Malta is one of the best places in the world | | | | their new Malta route. |
| for retiring to. The Malta people and weather | | | | 'If the Malta government had the agreement in |
| make for a great combination'. | | | | place six months ago, the tourist industry would |
| Commenting on Monaco, who just beat Malta to | | | | be in a much better position today, after a good |
| top spot for safe destinations, YourMalta say that | | | | summer', add the Malta holiday guide. |
| the reasons for moving to Malta and Monaco are | | | | Some of the anticipation of an increase in hotel |
| very different. | | | | and holiday bookings for Malta has been tempered |
| 'Monaco is for millionaires and billionaires, who often | | | | recently after a survey in the UK - Malta's largest |
| choose to live there because of the zero income | | | | market - showed that package holidays in 2007 |
| tax. Malta is a low tax island and has her share of | | | | would be more expensive than comparable |
| millionaires, but Monaco needs the security and | | | | holidays in Spain and her islands. |