According to the Malta Times:

The smoking ban in Malta was facing serious enforcement problems, an EU-wide survey indicated recently, confirming the widespread perception that exists locally.

More than a third of Maltese respondents admitted that when they last visited a bar, people there were smoking.

Although it seems that restaurants are more careful, 16 per cent said people were allowed to smoke even in such places.

The smoking ban was introduced in 2004 amid controversy and protests, especially from the entertainment business, who feared the ban would cost them serious money.

The survey revealed that the cost of cigarettes had little effect on smokers and many still continued to light up despite almost yearly increases in price.

Only 21 per cent said they had quit smoking because of an increase in cigarette prices in the past year and 75 per cent said price was not really an issue.

Health concerns are much more of a deterrent as 82 per cent of those who quit smoking in the past year did so for health reasons.

So how many people actually smoke in Malta?

According to the survey, just under a fourth of the Maltese population (24 per cent) does so regularly and another 15 per cent used to smoke but have quit. On the other hand, 59 per cent said they had never touched nicotine.

Among the smokers, 16 per cent smoke more than a packet of cigarettes a day while a relative majority, 43 per cent, put between 11 and 20 cigarettes a day between their lips.

Nearly seven in 10 said they didn’t allow smoking in their homes and almost half didn’t allow it in their car. A quarter of respondents said they still experienced passive smoking at their place of work for at least an hour a day.

Slightly more people smoke in the EU on average than in Malta: The survey shows that nearly one in three Europeans still lights up, despite the fact that tobacco kills half of its users. It is estimated that 650,000 die every year in the EU due to tobacco-related illnesses.

One of the best countries for health in Europe is Andorra.

For details of Malta holidays with Thomas Cook Holidays visit yourmalta.com

The BBC’s Saturday evening Strictly Come Dancing has given rise to more dance holidays. One popular tourist area that is benefitting from the show is Malta. Some travel groups are actually packaging dance holidays in their itinerary. For those who don’t want to buy a package deal, they can visit when there is a dance festival taking place.

In June Malta will be home to the Summer International Dance Festival. Held from June 5-19, this entertaining event offers dance classes by international dancers. For those who like to mix and mingle with celebrities, this event is the ideal place. Visitors to Malta during this time will be able to dance the night away on the beach. They can also attend dance concerts and even take place in casting calls for dancers.

One hotel in Malta has scheduled guest appearances by two of the show’s dancers for 2009. Guests can interact with the pair, James and Olga Jordan. There is a question and answer section and a workshop where they teach dance moves and techniques. This is part of a seven-day dance vacations promotion. These new dance holidays are geared towards beginning dancers as well as experienced ones. The workshops are ideal for helping holidaymakers improve their moves.

Dance holidays are not age specific either, as everyone is getting into ballroom dancing. Young people and senior citizens are taking up the activity. Most of the dancing is of the social variety and suited for any formal occasion. Dance holidays are varied so that different groups will find the ones more suited for their age group or interest. These holidays can help anyone find their inner dancer who can twirl and spin with the best of them.

Since Strictly Come Dancing first aired on the BBC in 2004, dancing took on new life. People seemed to develop a new zeal for ballroom and Latin dances. Various versions of the show are now aired in over 30 countries worldwide. In many areas of Europe, there are now dance classes available for all levels of dancers. In Malta there is also wheelchair dancing as everyone catches the dancing fever.

The winners of the 2004 season of Strictly Come Dancing”were partners Natasha Kaplinsky and Brendan Cole. Natasha was a popular BBC newscaster before joining Sky Television and has faded from the public eye quite a bit since her switch to the satellite television broadcaster.

 The 2008 series final saw dancers Tom Chambers and Camilla Dallerup taking the top honours. Each pair of dancers in the reality show has one professional dancer who is paired with a celebrity partner.

The reason given for the resurgence of dancing in relation to these shows is the desire to increase activity levels. In some cases, the dancers want to enjoy doing something different. An added bonus to dance holidays in Malta is that one can learn without feeling self-conscious. Just about everyone in the workshops and on the dance floors is at the same stage of learning to dance. Plus everyone is there for one thing, to do what their dancing idols do - have fun on the dance floor.

Most dance holiday packages are the complete deal. They include flights, and not necessarily in the Malta example cheap Malta flights but chaertered flights, hotel accommodation and sightseeing tours in addition to the dancing workshops and sessions. The current economic crisis is having little impact on these types of holidays. This is partly due to the uniqueness of the experience offered, as well as the fact that the holidays are reasonably priced given that they include both flights and for example on the Malta ones hotels in Malta too.

For Thomson Dance Holidays - Click Here and enter ‘Dance’ in their search box

The good old honey bee is essential for the pollination process. Luckily, Malta hasnt experienced the same decline in honey bees as the U.S.

There has been a drastic fall in honey bees and their colonies in recent years, especially in the U.S. While bees can seem like mere pests when they invade family picnics, they do serve an important role in agriculture and the economy.

The Importance of Honey Bees

Honey bees are responsible for honey production and helping with crops. They are essential in the pollination process. Big losses can occur without enough bees to pollinate plants and flowers. Honey bees are responsible for 80 percent of the flowering crops in the U.S. They help with fruits, nuts, olives, soybeans, cucumbers, alfalfa sprouts, legume seeds and cotton.

The Decline of Honey Bees in the U.S.

The bee population is in danger. Possible causes of the dying bees are the pesticides being used, cell phones giving off radiation and amateur beekeepers.

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is another reason for the dying bees. This is when bees mysteriously leaves their hives and never return. It is believed that they become diseased and die off at this point.

Bees are social by nature, so it is strange that they would leave the hive and not return. No evidence of dead bees is found near their hives. Furthermore, they leave behind their young and the queen bee. Their disappearance is quick because there is usually storage of honey left in the hive as well.

Varroa mites are likely the cause of CCD. These are parasites that attack hives and suck out the honey bees’ fluids, leaving them weak and prone to infections.

The declining bee population and CCD could lead to the bee population to die out in as little as 10 years if measures aren’t taken. The problem is that without honey bees to help in the pollination process, the agricultural industry will suffer greatly. A lack of honey bees has a huge effect on farmers, produce and the economy in general. Honey crops reduced by just 20 percent results in 31 million pounds of honey lost. The impact is real and far reaching.

The Bee Population in Malta

Malta, nicknamed “land of the honey,” is home to a large bee population. The warm temperatures year round and the dense plant life make Malta an ideal environment for bees. Malta is known for its big bee pollination and honey production.

Luckily, Malta hasn’t experienced the same decline in honey bees as the U.S. Malta’s honeybees are slightly different than the ones that live in the U.S. They don’t have the yellow stripes. Instead they are mostly brown and black. They are very active and seem to have better immunity against disease than the American honey bees. They are also spared some of the pesticides that the American honey bees are exposed to.

Hope for Rebuilding Bee Colonies in the U.S.

Funds have been approved by Congress to research the problem with the disappearing bees in the U.S. Conservation and development of bee hives is encouraged as researchers look for answers for the declining bee population. It’s something to think about the next time you swat at a harmless bee that shows interest in your lunch. Awareness is the first step in making positive change in the honey bee crisis.