Malta holiday news for the people of the UK counties of Hampshire and Dorset - their local airport is about to have flights to Malta - and at prices which will tempt many to take a holiday or short break as the flights are being operated by Europe’s most successful low cost airline.

With low cost flights it will boost the island’s tourism industry as more people decide to try a Malta holiday for the first time - or remember their last trip and decide to visit again.

With prices low it will encourage not only traditional week and fortnight holidays, but also three and four day breaks for those who might normally visit the Spanish Costas.

Ryanair pioneered cheap Malta flights a few years ago after a long battle with the authorities who seemed apparently entrenched in their ways, and protective to existing carriers.

It was only after quite a battle to win the right to fly to the island that airfares came down in line with much of the rest of Europe, bringing more holidaymakers and relief to the Malta holidays trade.

As well as Bournemouth, the airline offers cheap Malta flights from Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds and Luton - and from Ireland has a service from Dublin.

Further helping the island’s economy Ryanair aren’t just flying to and from the UK and Ireland. In mainland Europe they have cheap Malta flights to and from Spain - Barcelona and Madrid - Pisa and Venice in Italy, and Stockholm in Sweden.

These flights from Spain, Italy and Scandanavia has helped Malta become more cosmopolitan, which in turn means visitors are more likely to visit from diverse destinations across Europe and not just from the UK. Helpful indeed to the island’s economy as it’s no longer reliant on just one country’s tourists to choose it from a multitude of other locations, especially when that country has been in a recession for two years and is only just beginning to emerge from it.

Holidays in Malta can now appeal to a wide range of people both from the UK and Europe, and with the cost now on par with a week in Spain there’s every reason to hope that the island will see a good number of holidaymakers visit for 2010.

More Malta holiday details are at http://www.yourmalta.com

Tourists often post comments about their holidays on facebook

Passenger ships, also known as cruise ships or cruise liners, have been a very important part of travel life as we know it. Early cruise ships were built with more functionality in mind than comfort or leisure. Their purpose was to travel the oceans and seas, delivering passengers and goods to distant places. Transatlantic crossings took several days and were often perilous. The journey between North America and Europe was never shorter than four days. The introduction of steamships made the trip safer, faster and more reliable.

As cruise ships became a more popular and viable form of travel, the ships became ever more luxurious. The Titanic is probably the most famous cruise ship ever - for all the wrong reasons. Construction of the ship included ballrooms, luxurious dining areas and staterooms. The Titanic was the largest passenger steamship in the world, and many people looked forward to her maiden voyage. Because of the tragic events that followed, many maritime laws were passed to ensure the safety of future luxury ship voyages.

Today, millions of passengers each year take advantage of the accommodations a variety of cruise ships have to offer. These massive ships are built with comfort in mind. In recent years, they’ve been used as vacation getaways, taking passengers on fantastic voyages lasting several days or a week. A few remote destinations in the world may only be visited by cruise ships, airplane or helicopter. Some of the most popular destinations for cruise ships are the Caribbean, the Balearic Islands, Europe and Alaska.

Retired Cruise Ships Become Much More

The introduction of air travel and cheap holidays caused a decline in the number of passengers on cruise ships. Many people chose to fly in lieu of setting sail on a cruise ship simply because it was faster. Fortunately for tourists who enjoy water travel, many cruise ships still operate today. More cruise ships are being added often to accommodate the growing number of people who enjoy cruising.

When the time comes to retire a cruise ship, they are often put to use in other areas. The SS United States, or “The Big U” as it is often called, made its maiden voyage in 1952. It has been out of service since 1969 and is currently docked in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania awaiting a new future. The Big U still holds the record for the fastest westbound transatlantic crossing.

The RMS Queen Mary was one of the most spectacular ships of her time. She played a very important part in World War II. One of her passengers was British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, whom she carried across the Atlantic for meetings. In 1942, she captured and still holds the record for the most passengers ever transported on one ship. She carried 16,082 American troops from New York to Great Britain. The Queen Mary is now berthed in Long Beach, California, where she serves as a hotel and museum.

The  Queen Elizabeth 2, commonly known as QE2, is one of the most recent ships to be decommissioned. The QE2 commenced her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City in 1969. In 1999, she celebrated her 30th anniversary in Southampton. Her 30 years of service had seen almost 5 million nautical miles and carried more than 2 million passengers.

The QE2 was given a multi million dollar makeover in 1999 that included refurbishing several rooms and cabins. Since 2004, she’s made several trips to the Mediterranean. She is now moored at Port Rashid in Dubai, where she will be converted to a floating hotel.

Not all decommissioned cruise ships are forgotten and left to rust. Many cruise ships have been retired and go on to become hotels, a casino, museums and luxury restaurants. Millions of passengers per year enjoy cruises to the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, the Caribbean and many other exotic or remote destinations. Those ships become a special point in the memories of the passengers who enjoyed the trip. The ability to turn those ships into floating hotels or other tourist attractions is a great asset to the tourism industry.

Grand Harbour, Valletta, Malta. Malta welcomes over 500,000 cruise ship passengers a year.

Malta last year for example attracted over half a miillion cruise ship visitors - a record for the island, and a real boost for the holidays in Malta industry as it faces the recession.

Both marketing and tourist officials on the island of Malta are beginning a push to change the face of its holiday industry, as the overall number of holidays sold in 2009 is expected to dip, with the aim of maybe keeping her tourist numbers on a similar level to recent years.

It appears that its days of depending on the over 60 crowd to infuse outside Euros into the Maltese economy are numbered. No plans are in place to snub its population of retired holidaymakers. However, the island’s tourism director recently announced his intention to re-market Malta to a younger generation.

Malta has become synonymous with the aged in the minds of some European tourists. Seeing a world of opportunity for increasing the numbers of tourists in different age brackets to the island, tourism director Chris Fenech hopes to soon change that image.

Malta From http://www.yourmalta.com

The plan is to campaign hard for a younger visitor populace. Much of this effort will be aimed directly at British tourists. While other Europeans are beginning to frequent the hotels, clubs, and beaches of Malta, Brits still cling to the notion that Malta is for retirees.

Changing the image of a holiday destination isn’t easy, but Fenech appears to be up to the challenge. Tourism officials are focusing on a few key areas. Luxury cruise-goers are being encouraged to spend some time in Malta as ships are encouraged to dock in Malta. The theory is that cruisers who come to Malta for a day stop will love the island enough to return for a longer holiday.

They also plan to increase the island’s profile with the spa and wellness crowd. Tour packages will be geared specifically toward the traveler seeking health and fitness as well as relaxation while holidaying. Another clever tactic being employed to attract a younger crowd is to promote Malta as an extraordinary place for weddings and honeymoons.

It’s reputation for being a retiree’s haven aside, Malta and her smaller islands have much to offer for tourists of all ages. The island is rich with history that can still be seen today in ancient structures, such as its megalithic temples. From wars and battles, to its many and varied ruling bodies, to its independence in 1964, Malta’s past is rich and exciting.

Malta also boasts beautiful terrain, like its famous Dingli Cliffs. Sheer rock faces drop suddenly into the sparkling blue Mediterranean Sea, making them a breathtaking stop on a tourist’s itinerary. Of course, many tourists simply come for the rolling, sandy beaches.

Since Malta has nearly year round sunshine, it is an ideal place for the avid outdoor sportsman to spend a week or two. Golf lovers may want to hit the greens at the Royal Malta Golf Club. Watersports like skiing, surfing, paragliding, wakeboarding and diving are popular with tourists during their Malta holidays. Many hotels offer watersports packages. Or, guests may prefer to simply visit a local company specializing in rentals and lessons.

Horseback riding is another Malta holidays favourite. For those who prefer to watch horses rather than ride them, horse races take place on a weekly basis during peak season. The island is also home to major regattas and yacht races. The Malta Marathon every February is a popular event with runners from all over the world, when the Malta weather is first class for athletics.

Clearly, Malta has much going for it when it comes to tourist attractions. Whether Malta will overcome its reputation as a destination for seniors remains to be seen. But a lot about the island could tempt a younger generation to visit Malta for their holidays - and with the recession in full swing Malta will be pleased to see them in the year ahead.