понедельник, 29 декабря 2008 г.

Sunshine Coast Accommodations

Planning for a weekend with your family at an exquisite location? Want to get away from the city hustle and bustle with your loved one for a few days? Then we have the best deal available just for you at the Sunshine Coast Resort Catalina Holiday Apartments which is offering you first class luxurious accommodation at the beautiful Sunshine Coast Resort in Queensland.
As a full-fledged holiday resort, at Catalina you will find a high degree of hospitality and world class services. It is an ideal place for the family, couples and individuals to spend their holidays or just a weekend away from the daily drudge.
The two towers of Catalina Holiday Resort can be seen from far away and make a unique mark in the landscape of Maroochydore. This Sunshine Coast resort is well equipped to cater to the needs of a variety of guests, like adventure seeking individuals and also to those who just want to relax and be entertained.
Catalina Sunshine Coast Resort has a wide range of facilities like lush tropical gardens with BBQ facilities, full-size tennis court, swimming pools, childrenBs wading pool, heated spas, games room, secure undercover parking, friendly onsite managers and a tour desk to help you plan your adventures.
You can take in the breathtaking view of the ocean from the spacious balconies or take a walk to pubs, clubs and restaurants within easy reach. Or even visit the large air-conditioned shopping centre with a variety of specialty shops and cinema only minutes from the Sunshine Coast Resort.
There is an abundance of outside local attractions to satisfy all types of holidaymakers, from children and families, to couples and groups. Some are within walking distance, while others are only a few minutes away from the centrally located Catalina Resort Holiday Apartments. You can stroll down to the beach for a surf, go water skiing, scuba diving, horse riding, sailing, para gliding, or hire a boat and cruise up the river fishing for lunch.

четверг, 25 декабря 2008 г.

Aviation - How To Succeed 3

Air Transport
Airbus F It is a subsidiary of EADS, a huge European aerospace corporation, and manufactures aircraft on their behalf. Airbus has its base in Toulouse in France, and it manufactures nearly half of the world's jet airliners. It has sixteen sites within Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Spain, and employs a total of around 57,000 people across these sites.
Boeing F It is a major defense and aerospace company with a manufacturing function based in Seattle. In terms of revenue, it is the largest aircraft manufacturer in the world, as well as the second-largest aerospace and defense contractor, globally. In fact, it holds the position of being the largest exporter in the United States.
Bombardier F It a major aircraft manufacturer with headquarters in Quebec in Canada. It has a versatile product range including regional aircraft, business jets, mass transportation equipment, recreational equipment, such as snowmobiles, and is a financial services provider. The aerospace division accounts for around 50% of the company's income. ItBs best selling aircraft include the Dash 8 and CRJ lines of regional airliners. The Learjet company is a subsidiary of Bombardier and manufactures jets under the Learjet name.
Embraer F It is a Brazilian aerospace company that manufactures commercial, military, and corporate aircraft, together with associated aerospace services. In respect of worldwide aircraft manufacturers, it has the third largest yearly delivery of commercial aircraft, behind Boeing and Airbus. Its headquarters and principal production facilities are in S“o Paulo.
Tupolev F It is a renowned Russian aerospace and defence company, with headquarters centred in Moscow. It is understood that the Russian government is planning to merge Tupolev with other famed aircraft manufacturers, including Mikoyan, Ilyushin, Irkut, Sukhoi, and Yakovlev as a new company named United Aircraft Corporation. Development, manufacturing and overhaul of both civil and military aircraft and weapons systems are just some of the aerospace ventures that the company is involved in. It is also involved in the technologies associated with missile and naval aviation.

In terms of individual specialisations, it can be said that:
Boeing, Airbus, and Tupolev concentrate on wide and narrow-bodied jet airliners
Bombardier and Embraer concentrate on regional airliners, which refer to small airliners designed to fly between 35 and 100 passengers from point to point on short-haul flights. Such small airliners are most suitable for the regional divisions of the larger international airlines.
In order that these manufacturers may function efficiently, extensive networks of parts suppliers, from around the globe, specialising in their own niche areas, provide appropriate support. Such backup is all the more necessary since, in some instances, the manufacturer will provide only the initial design, with final assembly in their own plants.
The Chinese ACAC consortium, a subsidiary of Aviation Industries of China I (AVIC I), formed in 2002 by various Chinese aviation companies, will also soon enter the civil transport market with its ACAC ARJ21 regional jet. The ARJ21 is a twin-engined airliner and the first passenger jet to be developed and manufactured by the People's Republic of China.
Aviation F How To Succeed
Peter Radford writes Articles with Websites on a wide range of subjects. Aviation Articles cover Historical Development, Civil/Military/Transport Aircraft, Air Traffic Control, Environmental Impact.
Website has many more.
View his Website at: aviation-how-to-succeed.com
View his Blog at: aviation-how-to-succeed.blogspot.com

понедельник, 22 декабря 2008 г.

Air Travel In Italy Booking Tips

The cost of flying within Italy is often comparable to the cost of train travel, although be sure to include the expense of getting to and from the airport. When flying out of Italian airports, always check with the airport or tourist agency about upcoming strikes, which are frequent in Italy and often affect air travel. The work stoppages are called by trade unions over contractual disputes, and can also ground or delay flights to and from Italy operated by several European carriers, including British Airways and Air France.
When flying internationally, you must usually choose between a domestic carrier, the national flag carrier of the country you are visiting (Alitalia for Italy), and a foreign carrier from a third country. National flag carriers have the greatest number of non stops. Domestic carriers may have better connections to your hometown and serve a greater number of gateway cities. Third-party carriers may have a price advantage.
On international flights, Alitalia serves Rome, Milan, and Venice. The major international hubs in Italy are Milan and Rome, served by Continental Airlines and Delta Air Lines. American Airlines flies into just Milan. US Airways serves only Rome.
Alitalia and British Airways have direct flights from London’0Is Heathrow and Gatwick airports to Milan and Rome. From Manchester, British Airways has daily flights to Milan and Rome. Smaller, no-frills airlines also provide service between Great Britain and Italy.
EasyJet connects Gatwick with Bologna. British Midland connects Heathrow and Milan. Ryanair, departing from London’0Is Stansted Airport, has daily flights to Milan, Rome, Pisa, and Venice. Meridiana has two or three direct flights each week between Gatwick and Olbia on Sardinia in summer, and daily flights to Rome and Florence throughout the year. From its hub in Brussels, Virgin Express files to Milan, Catania, and Rome.
Alitalia connects Canada and Italy. Air Canada flies to Munich for connections to Rome, Florence, and Milan via Lufthansa. Qantas flies from various cities in Australia via Bangkok, arriving in Rome. Alitalia and New Zealand Air fly from Auckland to Rome with a stop in London. Another option if you’0Ire coming from Australia or New Zealand is Thai Airlines, landing in Rome via Bangkok.
When buying tickets for flights within Italy, on Alitalia and small carriers such as Meridiana and Air One shop around for the best deals. Tickets are frequently sold at discounted prices, so check the cost of flights, even one-way, as an alternative to train travel.

воскресенье, 21 декабря 2008 г.

How To Find Cheap Flights To Europe

So you want to visit Europe. Well you do not have to spend a fortune on your dream vacation. Flying to Europe can be as inexpensive as flying almost anywhere else if you keep a few tips in mind.
The first stop should always be your local travel agent when you are looking for good cheap flights to Europe. These travel agents work pretty much the same way as the internet travel sites. However your local travel agent can personalize your flight more to your liking. Make sure to compare prices at all of your big travel websites such as Travelocity and Orbitz. You will find that their discounts will usually be much cheaper than what you can get on your own. Remember to have all of your information such as dates and numbers ready so that you can fill in the forms. If you are a student, check with the airlines and see if they have any special student discounts. Almost every city that has a large college will have agencies that are set up just to handle special student discounts. If you are planning on traveling with a group, make sure you ask about group discounts. Most airlines will give group discounts, however, they aren't going to offer these cheaper prices unless you ask for them.
Another way to get cheap flights to Europe is get with a chartered flight. Now most chartered flights will offer the full package. You will get a hotel, meals, sight seeing trips and more. But, if you are only interested in the flight, they will usually discount the package and you will end up with a cheap flight. You can find these charter agencies in most any city in the world.
When planning your trip look for cheaper flights into other cities or even countries. Traveling within Europe is very inexpensive by train. So if you find, for instance, that it is much cheaper to fly into Amsterdam that to Frankfurt and your final destination is going to be Frankfurt, you can save hundreds of dollars taking the train the rest of the way. Not only will this save you a lot of money, but it will also make the trip a lot more fun. Riding the trains in Europe is not like riding them in the U.S. You will meet some very interesting people and have a great time in the process.
So as you can see, getting cheap flights to Europe is not a difficult task at all. All it takes is a little bit of research and planning.

How Can You Find Cheap Flights To New York?

Are you planning a trip to the Big Apple? There is more to do in New York City than any other city in the world. This makes for a great vacation spot. However, some people get turned off at the though of traveling there because they are afraid that they can't find any cheap flights to New York.
Sometimes it's best to look at places beside the airlines themselves for cheap flights to New York. For instance, you may be able to get better pricing through a travel agent. Travel agents get their tickets at discounted prices from the airlines if they can bring in enough passengers. Some agents can offer you better deals than others can, so make sure to shop around.
When you purchase your tickets with one of these agents, they will likely try to give you a full travel package. This is also how they make their money. These packages can include hotels, meals and rental cars. If you to take one of these packages you can save money, but if you are only looking for a flight, they will be able to accommodate you. More recently the travel agent has moved on to the internet type of agent. This is an advantage to the person looking for cheap flights to New York. The ones that you may have heard of the most are Priceline, Travelocity, and Orbitz. Using these sites will have an advantage over the traditional travel agent because you can compare the prices of each easier without having to leave your home. When using these sites, check several before making a purchase. You will find that each one has different deals.
Regardless of who you purchase your tickets from don't forget about looking into other discounts that you may be eligible for. Military discounts, senior citizen discounts, and student discounts are some that may be available to you. You will need to ask about these when setting up your itinerary. Like most places, the time of year that you travel to New York will affect the prices. Most people prefer to visit there during the summer and holidays. Try to avoid these times of the year and you will see better discounts.
Another option to finding cheap flights to New York is to fly standby. What this means is that you will agree to purchase a ticket without a guaranteed seat. You then wait at the airport until there is an extra seat available. Due to the large number of flights in and out of New York makes this option very easy. When shopping around for these cheap flights keep all of these tips in mind. If you do, you will find that it doesn't have to cost a fortune.

воскресенье, 14 декабря 2008 г.

Student Discounts And Cheap Airfare

For the students finding the money for a tour can be rather problematic. Everybody who has been a poor student knows what it is all about but often the chance to tour is significant enough to outweigh even the very budget conscious of student goers. But with money poor, it is vital to locate student discounts and cheap airfare anytime when you try to trip.
There are numerous travel companies that provide discounted airfares and tours aimed at students. In many cases, such packages are not flexible when the talk is about selecting tour dates for the tour is a component of a bigger package set up only for students. There may be limitations on round-trips and the amount of days between departure flights and return flights as part of the special packages.
Another great place to seek is websites specializing in student tour and discounted airfares. They concentrate on one-way destination student airway tickets, as many students are searching for this kind of deal for they hesitant when they may be coming back.

10 Benefits Of Flying

There are a wide range of both economic and social benefits to flying but possibly the one criterion that makes flying more favourable to any other mode of transport is the amount of time it saves.
Time has become one of our most valued resources, particularly in business, but if you have a limited amount of time to spend on your holiday then flying has to be your preferred choice both to and from your destination and during the holiday itself.
Many of us make the mistake of trying to see too much in a limited period of time but the key to getting the most out of your holiday or business trip is to indulge in helicopter tours.
2. Experience all the highlights
Too often tourists have to endure long and often dull journeys so that they can experience the highlights of an area. These hours are effectively wasted time and, as we are all aware, time is money.
Consider the fact that a flight between Cape Town and Johannesburg takes in the region of two hours, yet the same distance by car will take two days.
The vast majority of tourists want to enjoy Cape Town and possibly the Kruger National Park in a two week period. If flying wasnBt an option, the estimated journey time would effectively make this near impossible.
Reputable helicopter tour operators will include all the Amust seesB of a region into their itinerary that will arguably take up a small chunk of the total time spent in a new country or region.
3. Get the full picture from above
Flying, particularly in helicopters, allows visitors to see an area in its totality, giving them the proverbial birdBs eye view. In mountainous areas like the Western Cape and KwaZulu Natal, the views from up above are unrivalled in their magnificence.
4. Access to difficult terrain
Helicopter flips have the added advantage of being able to access difficult-to-reach terrain and thereby allowing visitors to experience highlights not often enjoyed by the man in the street. They are also the ideal mode of transport for the unfit or infirm.
5. Added comfort
Flying offers the added advantage of comfort. Whether on a commercial flight or a helicopter flip over the Cape Winelands, there is always a lot more leg room for the ardent traveller. ItBs also possible to move freely around larger aircrafts and there are dedicated staff members to care for your every need.
Unlike long, arduous car journeys where the African heat can become a real killer, air conditioning makes flying a relatively painless experience.
6. The cheap alternative
The competitive nature of world aviation has ensured that the number of cheap or discounted flights is on the rise. Many of these low budget airlines also offer lucrative specials at certain times of the year that make flying cheaper than driving by a significant margin.
7. Maintains long distance relationships
These days the world is considered a global village and people relocate to different countries all the time for jobs or simply a better quality of life. Flying is the only real way to keep up with those who have moved to distant shores F imagine how bereft we would all be if there was no way of visiting our loved ones in far off places!
8. Reliable
All flights, be they commercial or otherwise, adhere to strict operational schedules so it is generally considered one of the most reliable modes of transport in the world today.
9. Huge economic advantages
Air transport generates a total of 32 million jobs annually and the global economic impact of flying is estimated at $3, 560 billion per annum, the equivalent of 7.5% of the worldBs GDP F clearly not to be sneezed at!
10. Facilitates economic growth
As the only rapid worldwide transport system, aviation is essential for global business and tourism, the main facilitators of economic growth. World trade has skyrocketed since the advent of flying and today the total value of goods transported by air represents 35% of all international trade, while over 40% of all international tourists travel by air.
OR Tambo international Airport in Johannesburg is AfricaBs busiest airport and caters for 17 million passengers, 250, 000 tonnes of cargo and 200, 000 aircrafts per annum.
It is estimated that South AfricaBs ten principal airports have over 23 million passengers using their facilities each year and when you consider ACSABs (Airports Company South Africa) profit before tax was R928 million in 2006, then it is clearly the transport mode with the biggest economic clout.

четверг, 11 декабря 2008 г.

Desert And Travels

With the existence of numerous exotic deserts nestled all over the world, there has been tremendous increase in the demand of CDesert and travelsD among the travelers. A unique desert safari is all set to rival the exotic nature of an African safari; sight of barren and gravel plain are the main characteristic features of desert and the count has various things to offer to their visitors, as there are many things to see and to do during desert travels. No wonder deserts are arid regions and receive very less rainfalls each year; therefore it is quite natural with some regions where the potential evaporation rate is twice as great as the precipitation. Apart from such dry and arid deserts there are cool coastal deserts situated along the same latitudes as subtropical deserts, the average temperature is much cooler because of frigid offshore ocean currents. Sometimes the Polar Regions are also recognized to be deserts because nearly all moisture in these areas is locked up in the form of ice. With so much of climatic imbalance and unique geographical features traveling to a desert region needs plenty of preparations. In order to make the vacation memorable and fun filled, a travelers need to check out several information that can help to deals against the unfavorable environmental condition during desert trip. To make sure that your desert adventure is a success, check out this list of travel tips.
Try to visit such desert regions during the time of spring; it is the best time to plan a desert safari. Finish your walking sessions in the early morning or late afternoon when the sun is not as hot.
With the existence of scorching sunlight, avoid exposure to the sun at all costs or move from shade to shade. Sunburns or heat exhaustion are very serious issues and can prove fatal, therefore instead of ignoring them travelers are advised to wear a hat, sunscreen and dark sunglasses before stepping out. Periodic application of sunscreen to any exposed areas is a must. Try wearing light, loose long sleeve shirts and long pants to protect your skin from the sun. Head and the neck regions are the one that has to be covered. Use a high Sun Protection Factor (SPA) cream to minimize the effects of Ultraviolet-B. Ventilated boots makes ideal footwear. To keeping sand, venomous livestock, sun and thorns off the feet. Travelers are advised to keep some warm clothes in handy in order to deal with cold nights.
Always keep yourself hydrate, drink good quality water regularly and fully. According to source 10-15 litters per day are needed by a healthy person to avoid dehydration in desert conditions. It has been seen most of the ailments arising during desert travel is related to water deficiency. Travelers are therefore advised to carry at least one gallon per day/person of drinking water.
Sand storm or violent thunderstorms are not uncommon in the desert, before heading out keep your eye on the sky. Be wise enough to stay in your quarters or vehicle if there is a sand storm developing anywhere near you.
Take some extra care on your diet, stomach upsets is quite common faced by many travelers. Opt for hot cooked meals rather than cold meats and tired salads. Peel all fruit and uncooked fresh vegetables and avoid drinking 'native' milk-based items or untreated water.

понедельник, 8 декабря 2008 г.

Air Charter Service India

In a broad sense air charter service is a trade of renting a whole aircraft. Air charter companiesB key on private aircrafts; time bound freight, cargo, air ambulance and any other form of rented air transportation. It is also known as air taxi, executive charter, jet charter. Chartering an aircraft is an expensive option however it also depends upon convenience, limited utilization, regulations and organizational structure. Air charter travel is still unfamiliar to many people around the globe. So make it familiar to general public air charter service India offers air charter service with facilities like special air services, over fly permits, aircraft chartering, flight clearances and technical landing. It also promotes chartered air flights for executive business travel and personal holidays. Air charter service India assists you in deciding whether you should go for a charter plain or a private plane.
Air charter service India offers travelers an extensive range of aircraft, greater level of convenience and privacy. We are well known for exceptional service on the ground and in the air too. Our trained and experienced crew members enhance the joy of your business trip with high standards of business traveling experience. They acknowledge bets customer to meet your expectations from the convenience of scheduling an aircraft charter to the security you need.
Air charter service India integrates expanded services and various profits over commercial aviation and concentrates more on competency, intimacy and compliance. Our services empower you to have a freedom to schedule your trip in accordance with requirement. Our travel industry expertise and broad clientele enable us to deliver quality service to our esteemed customers.

Private Passenger Aircraft- A Greater Level Of Convenience

Now dayBs private passenger aircraft has become more popular in reaching a special occasion with family, friends or business partners. A private passenger aircraft will make your journey full of happiness and also increases freedom of movement. Renting a private aircraft is always a fabulous option if you are in need to have complete oversight of the destination. It is an efficient service for the people who want to enjoy the luxury, privacy and convenience that private air travel affords.
A good private passenger aircraft is equipped with the comprehensive security mechanism, safety and can be integrated easily with any services desired, from hairdressers to masseuses, with full service catering and entertainment. These aircrafts are the best options for the esteemed clients and executives that value their time and wish to travel according to their time schedule to their destination. Chartering private passenger aircraft is a practical solution in busy and hectic environment when airports are jammed with delays, flight cancellations security problems and various other hassles.
Private passenger aircraft is a next door fast, cost effective way to charter private aircraft for small or mid size journey. It can be any aircraft including light jets, prop planes or helicopter that provides short and medium travel luxury for number of passengers. These aircraft are normally lashed with advanced safety devices such as weather radar, anti-icing equipment, oxygen, traffic alerting systems and ground proximity warning systems.
As trade practices become more global, private passenger aircraft is going more popular, with corporations becoming more aware of these aircrafts as an important business tool. The advantages of hiring a private passenger aircraft are clearly visible. It will take you to any destination in the world without concerning flying objective and it also confers the comprehensive range of travel happiness and peace of mind in affordable cost.

среда, 3 декабря 2008 г.

A First Visit To Southampton Airport

Southampton Airport has seen passenger numbers rise rapidly in recent years, with many travellers looking to take advantages of the cheap flights from Flybe. With flights to a large number of European destinations, it's easy to see why people are tempted to fly from here.
I've always loved Ireland but travelling to get there is rarely too much fun. Given that I'm not a big fan of ferries, I've usually opted in the past to make use of flights from one of the main London airports.
The reasoning for doing so has often come down to price. I figure that if I can get a cheap flight from Stansted, for example, then it's worth the hassle involved in actually getting from my home to Stansted.
When I mention the word hassle, I don't do so lightly - travelling to Stansted Airport is not usually a pleasant experience.
Friends have recently been telling me about how convenient it is to use Southampton Airport and that prices are often lower than from larger airports.
It took me a while to convince myself that I did really want to fly from the regional airport though. I guess I was concerned that it might be little more than an airfield, with old fashioned planes.
The reality, of course, turned out to be completely different. Although the airport is clearly small in terms of size, it has most of the same facilities as I had become used to at Stansted.
It may have had a few less shops, but I can't say that this bothered me too much. Maybe it would have done if my flight had been delayed for a long period, but that wasn't the case in this instance.
I'm pleased to report that my short flight to Ireland was rather enjoyable. I loved the fact that it had been such a stress-free experience getting to Southampton Airport in the first place.
This is clearly a good option for those who want to fly cheaply and make use of the convenience of their local airport.

Are Your Flights Cancelled?

One of the most popular budget airlines have threatened to cancel all of their flights to a certain sunny destination situated within the Canary Islands due to a row with the local tourism group. The airline has threatened to axe all the flights due to Fuerteventura's tourism group not honouring their contract. The airline has already cancelled their flights to Valencia sue to their local tourism board not going ahead with part of the contract.
This move will negatively affect both parties but the airline feels their reaction is necessary and that they need to take a strong stand with local tourism boards.
If you have booked flights to Fuerteventura you should make sure you are not affected, check your holiday's details and rebook if you feel you could have your flights cancelled. You will be able to take advantage of cheaper flights which are available if you book early, the sooner the better.
If you have booked using a debit card, you may struggle in claiming your money back. If this is the case you should check your travel insurance as sometimes flights or holiday cancellation is covered in your policy. Some travel insurance policies can cover a variety of holiday mishaps from lost luggage, cancelled holidays to holiday providers going into administration.

понедельник, 1 декабря 2008 г.

Malta Flights - Who Is Boosting The Holidays Market?

Are low-cost airlines to blame for the downfall of more expensive airlines? The news that UK based XL Airways had folded was expected to cause quite a stir among the tourism-dependent areas it served. Malta did not receive as much air traffic from XL Airways as other, less expensive airlines. When XL Airways closed, they cancelled flights and immediately grounded all aircraft.
Today's economic woes stretch world-wide. The more expensive something is, the fewer people will be able to afford it. Airlines that offer lower cost airfare will ultimately carry more passengers and create more revenue than their more expensive counterparts. Low-cost airlines could be the underlying cause of the increase in tourism on Malta. In fact, some airlines claim to be more responsible for travel to and from the island than others.
Air Malta
Air Malta believes they are primarily responsible for Malta's increase in tourism. About 77,000 more tourists flew from points in Europe to Malta in the first half of 2008 primarily because of Air Malta's new pricing packages. A staggering 57 percent of those tourists traveled via Air Malta.
Chief Officer Commercial, Brock Friesen said, "We are building on the positive results registered last winter, when, for the first time in history, Air Malta transported over half a million passengers." He also said that tourism to Malta was strongly benefitting from Air Malta's increases in traffic.
Ryanair
In August, Ryanair reported carrying more than 40,000 passengers to or from Malta during the month of July. Ryanair spokesman Alessia Viviani said, "While Malta airport registered traffic growth of only 1.3 percent in July 2008 compared to July 2007, Ryanair has increased its traffic volume by 116 percent, making a vital impact on the Maltese economy."
easyJet
easyJet is another low-cost airline laying some claim on the increase in tourist traffic to Malta. easyJet offers inexpensive flights to and from Malta and a variety of hot tourist spots throughout Europe. Since the first flight to Malta in March of 2008, easyJet has seen an increase in traffic to the island for a Malta holiday as well. The airline plans to continue several flights per week to Malta in the coming years.
The Impact of Low Cost Flights to Malta
Because the Maltese economy is reliant primarily upon tourism, low-cost flights to the island have become just as important. The current state of the economy world-wide could cause people to reconsider vacations and weekend getaways. They may even cut them out of their budget entirely. The introduction of low-cost flights to and from Malta has actually increased the number of tourists the island entertains per year. Many tourists are repeat visitors who say they would not abandon their vacation to Malta, even if it means tightening the budget to accommodate it.
Some travel agents seek low-cost airlines and hotels to book more affordable travel packages for their clients. Clients often look toward professional travel agents to find the best cost for their favorite travel destinations. When resorts, hotels and airlines work together to combine great deals for their guests, travel agents promote those great deals to ensure more repeat business.
The impact of low-cost flights to Malta has been astounding. In 2003, about 1.2 million tourists visited Malta. In 2005, the island attracted nearly 1.5 million international tourists. Each year, Malta's tourism statistics jump as much as 13 percent. The first six months of 2008 have already seen more than half a million visitors, effectively breaking Malta's previously held record within the same time frame, with the full results for 2008 not yet available.