| Preperations are underway for the Malta | | | | island. |
| international Air Show, Malta's annual air | | | | |
| show which will draw tens of thousands of | | | | The first half of the year has been a |
| islanders and tourists to the event over the | | | | disappointing one for the Malta holidays |
| weekend of September 23 and 24. | | | | industry, with a drop in tourists for the |
| | | | first six months of the year compared to the |
| Making the event a truly international one, | | | | same period last year. |
| as well as the Armed Forces of Malta | | | | |
| participating, the French, Italian, Dutch | | | | Commenting on the recently released figures |
| Swiss and Spanish will all have planes and | | | | showing a drop in visitors, one independent |
| crew in attendance, plus the British Royal | | | | travel guide for Malta believes that events |
| Air Force and US Air Force. | | | | like the air show should be promoted more. |
| | | | |
| Among the planes taking part are two Alpha | | | | 'Malta needs good news', they say, 'and if |
| jets from France, one of which will be doing | | | | potential tourists could see on a Malta map |
| an aerial display, six F-16's with two Dutch | | | | of events quality displays such as the air |
| F-16's flying, and from the RAF two Harriers | | | | show it would be a good reason to visit the |
| and two Tornadoes, with one of the Harriers | | | | island. |
| expected to do an aerial demonstration. | | | | |
| | | | The island needs to compete against other |
| Ticket prices for the Saturday or Sunday are | | | | destinations in the Mediterranean, but while |
| low compared to many international air shows, | | | | most of them are seeing an increase in |
| ensuring access is available to many of the | | | | visitor numbers, Malta is showing a drop'. |
| Maltese population as well as enthusiasts and | | | | |
| veterans who travel from around Europe for | | | | Many hoteliers and others in the holiday |
| the weekend. Prices this year are 4.5 Maltese | | | | industry are hoping that cheap Malta flights |
| (around US $12) for either day, with public | | | | might become a reality in the near future. |
| transport to the show available throughout | | | | There has been talk of low cost carriers from |
| the island. | | | | the UK and Ireland providing services to the |
| | | | island for some time now, but no deals have |
| With the tourist season beginning to slow | | | | been struck yet. |
| down, many of the hotels in Malta see the air | | | | |
| show as a tourist attraction and organise | | | | Unemployment on the island is high at over 8 |
| transport to and from the event. | | | | per cent, and tourism is a major employer, |
| | | | but many feel that the government is |
| An advantage of holding the show in the | | | | reluctant to see the national carrier Air |
| second half of September is that the Malta | | | | Malta face potentially subsidised competiton. |
| weather can almost be assured to be good, | | | | But by doing nothing the island faces the |
| with the all important clear skies allowing | | | | danger of the whole tourist industry |
| viewing of the participating planes. | | | | suffering. |
| | | | |
| Malta Transport | | | | 'Malta can be a high quality destination with |
| | | | low cost fares', comment the travel guide. |
| The air show is seen by many in the Malta | | | | 'We already have good accommodation like the |
| holidays industry as evidence that Malta can | | | | Malta Hilton, so potentially we can do it'. |
| produce events which will not only prove an | | | | |
| attraction to those tourists already on the | | | | Malta is hoping that the air show is a step |
| island, but also as part of a package of | | | | in the right direction. |
| other attractions to draw new tourists to the | | | | |