Lady of Mount Carmel Church, or St Paul’s Cathedral, is among Malta’s attractions (Photo: Getty Images)
It is also looking at the distribution of visitors, promoting both Malta and Gozo in tandem, so that tourists are not all concentrated in one area. Malta has recently seemed to reinvent itself as a party island, while not becoming the next Ibiza, because there’s far too much else going on here, too – from prehistoric sites to diving.
When choosing a European island for early autumn sun, Malta could also be one of the better value options. According to figures sourced for i by hospitality data intelligence firm Lighthouse, the average nightly price for a four-star room in September is €187.67 (£158.55) in Malta, compared to €263.16 (£222.33) in Mallorca’s capital Palma and €464.84 (£392.72) in the Greek island of Santorini.
And, with Malta, you get at least two islands in one (the third inhabited island of the archipelago is Comino, and there are five other uninhabited isles and islets making up the archipelago).
Malta and Gozo are like two halves of the same coin as they are so well connected: the ferries between the islands (45 minutes) run approximately every hour, even in the low season.
Major tourist-attracting events are spread out over the year. Take That are curating and performing in a four-day festival in Malta this October, when the weather will still be reliably sunny, yet tourist numbers are lower.
In the quieter month of November there’s the Valletta Early Opera Festival, and, in January, the Valletta Baroque Festival brings international classical stars to the city’s Baroque churches and theatre.
Patti Piazzi, who runs the boutique guest house ThirtySeven Gozo with her husband Giuseppe, moved to Gozo when it felt entirely off the beaten track, several decades ago. She has seen a steady increase in visitors.
“Gozo is always full, you feel the change on this no-longer-sleepy island, but the off-season period is still very beautiful and from September to November is stunning.”
She has noticed a trend: “It’s becoming more and more popular as a wedding destination.”
The number of foreigners’ weddings taking place here was steadily climbing pre-pandemic, up by a third in the decade to 2017, and people are now returning to get married in almost-guaranteed sunshine.
“Yachts are being rented for weeks and there is a very high demand; the most beautiful yachts in the world carry the Maltese flag.”
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Malta sets its cap for yacht owners: good facilities in a stable environment, attractive chartering arrangements with few extra costs or restrictions, and an extremely scenic location between Sicily and Tunisia.
Although there has not yet been any concerted anti-tourism movement in Malta, as has been seen in Spain, concerns have been expressed in the national press and by its academics about the management of the increase in tourist numbers. One of the problems in Malta is haphazard development. Multiple blocks have been built – resorts such as Xlendi on Gozo – which risks ruining the very reason that people visit: unspoiled charm.
For now, Malta’s diversity of attractions – the al fresco dining, boat trips, and a colourful culture where every village has an annual party – lure many types of travellers. The yearly parties are a carnival of food stalls, local brass bands, religious processions involving the entire village, and fireworks; they’re rollicking events where everyone is welcome.
Meanwhile, Solemn Catholic processions punctuate the calendar, and boating and dining out are the lifeblood of this small, dynamic country.
Prehistory lovers can make a beeline to Malta’s ancient clifftop temples of Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra, and the Hypogeum, an unparalleled underground prehistoric burial site, as well as Gozo’s Ġgantija, all of which predate the Pyramids and Stonehenge.
If you like your history a little more recent, there are fascinating sites and museums relating to the Knights of Malta, who built many of the islands’ churches, palaces and towns. Elsewhere, the strategic role the island played in the Second World War is remembered in places such as the underground control centre, preserved in aspic, beneath Barrakka Gardens in Valletta.
As well as this wealth of cultural sites, Malta has an epically beautiful coast, at turns sandy and rocky, with the most scenic beaches including red-sanded Ramla and San Blas bays in Gozo, and the surreally bright waters of the Blue Lagoon in Comino, Malta and Gozo’s smaller sister island.
Despite areas of Malta being built up, there’s a surprising amount of space to roam, with rock climbing, hiking, and cycling popular around the islands in areas such as the lush Buskett Gardens on Malta, and all-around Gozo, where the roads are quieter.
Diving here is frequently voted the best in Europe. This is, in part, due to the wealth of historic shipwrecks, especially from the Second World War, as well as the ease of access to sites, the clarity of the water, and the many well-run diving schools. It’s another activity that’s not just a summer perk: the water is warm enough that diving is possible at any time of year, so fans can come here outside of high season – in fact, it’s preferable as you have the sea (largely) to yourself.
At a time when islands like Santorini and Mallorca are feeling the pressure, Malta is booming, too, but remains eager to welcome more people to its shores.
Offering the chance to bask in the sun almost year-round, plus a vibrant calendar of events and festivals, Malta’s message is clear: tourists are welcome.
Source link : https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/travel/malta-tourists-off-season-3158733
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Publish date : 2024-07-09 05:00:00
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