Royals Put Malta Hotels Back on Map

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For a Mediterranean island with good year round weather, a friendly local English speaking population and facilities to rival that of any of her competitors, Malta is a suprisingly often forgotten island for many people planning a holiday in the Mediterranean.

Malta missed some of her own governments tourist targets in 2005, but a recent visit by Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh resulted in four days of positive media coverage in the islands most important market the United Kingdom and also in over 50 other countries attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, including Canada and Australia.

The Queen began her official visit to Malta before she opened the meeting, and was warmly greeted by friendly islanders.

Malta was governed by the British for a hundred and fifty years, and became independent in 1964. But the island has retained many British characteristics, including driving on the left, and British visitors account for nearly half of the islands tourists.

The George Cross ranks with the Victoria Cross as Britains highest award for bravery and Malta was awarded the Cross in 1942 by King George VI for the islands resistance to German attempts to occupy the island, with Malta being under almost constant attack from June 1940.

As well as the challenge of drawing tourists away from other Mediterranean islands like Mallorca and Menorca, Malta has had to face the additional challenge of new holiday destinations in the former Eastern Bloc opening up, such as Bulgaria and Croatia, which tend to be cheaper.

Brighter Future

But where the Maltese tourist board has singularly failed to market the islands appeal to the mass holiday market with any degree of success in recent years, the Queens visit has come at the right time for hotels and holiday companies hoping for a good 2006.

Tribune Properties, a British based company specialising in overseas properties including Malta comment:

Malta is not a high priority on the list of holiday destinations for many British people compared to the Spanish Costas, Canary and Balearic Islands. The visit of the Queen showed Malta in a very positive light, and hopefully the islands tourist officials will be able to capitalise on the trip and increase hotel and holiday bookings in the months ahead. Given Maltas past record of promotion though if 2006 sees an increase in visitors it will be despite of the official promotions, and not because of it..

More good news for the Malta holiday industry came in October with the announcement that low cost airlines had been been given the right to fly to the island.

This will help both the hotel and property industries in Malta add Tribune. With the cost of getting to the island coming down, Malta should see her share of the short stay European holiday market increase substantially, increasing employment locally and benefitting the economy overall.

Royals Put Malta Hotels Back on Map

Africa Getting Back to the Basics

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The astounding beauty of Africa’s many regions has attracted Western explorers, sparked wars and piqued historians’ interests for centuries upon centuries. From the tranquil Mediterranean coast of North Africa to the thriving southern tip of Cape Town, the great continent spans over 10,000 indigenous tribes, more than 500 languages and over 60 independent nations and political territories.

Africa is referred to as the cradle of human life as we know it, being the oldest inhabited territory in the world. Travel through Africa will reveal the modern dilemma of a region pushing forward with globalization and technology at the same time that many cultures and tribes are striving to protect their traditional way of life. In addition to human life, Africa supports the world’s most spectacular collection of rare species and biodiversity. Encountering Africa’s wilderness firsthand is not only a radically unique experience, but also a once-in-a-lifetime privilege that future generations may not have the opportunity to share.

Many Regions, More Identities

The overwhelming expanse of the African continent is best understood and traveled by region. The different regions in Africa are individually as diverse as the continent in its entirety, and the complexities of the cultures and nationalities leave the unsuspecting traveler dumbfounded.

The predominantly Arabic culture of North Africa enjoys the Mediterranean shore, from the majestic pyramids in Egypt to the enchanting Moorish architecture of Morocco. For the adventurous, the Sahara Desert lies just to the south and brings this region drier, hotter summers compared with its northern Mediterranean neighbors. Along the Atlantic Ocean, West Africa is predominantly comprised of Africa’s savannahs, known for their exciting wildlife safaris. The west is also home to Africa’s greatest cultural and political diversity, largely a result of the colonial era and the Slave Trade. East Africa is one of the most popular destinations where Africa’s two tallest peaks, Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya, soar imperially above great concentrations of elephants, water buffalo and rhinoceros. Visitors also venture east to explore the Great Rift Valley, a geologic wonder formed by the global movement of the earth’s plates. Southern Africa is a blend of forests, grasslands and deserts rich with diamonds and gold. Travel in southern Africa is unique due to the high population of Europeans and Indians; consequently, a distinct culture of food, music, art and religion has emerged from the blending of traditions.

Growing urban centers, breathtaking national parks and endless encounters with the past is only the beginning of your African travels. Travel to Africa and meet the many faces of our global history. The constant adventure and intellectual intrigue of this multifaceted and ancient continent is a journey that will be cherished for a lifetime. For more information, visit www.cfares.com, your source for cheap airfare on the web.

Africa Getting Back to the Basics

A Trip Back in Time to the Roots of Farming

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Those who want to explore this country’s roots may want to visit a group of destinations that showcase the role of agriculture-yesterday, today and tomorrow.

In 1836, JohnDeere, a blacksmith from Vermont, set up shop in the small Rock River town of Grand Detour, Ill. Convinced the sticky Midwestern soil required a special kind of plow, he forged one in 1837. His “self-polishing” plow grew in popularity and, as it did, so did the company that bears his name.

Today, visitors to the JohnDeere Historic Site can watch a blacksmith at work in a replica of the blacksmith’s shop where Deere fashioned his historic plow. The site also features the home JohnDeere built, a gift shop and an archaeological exhibit that shows the site of JohnDeere’s original blacksmith shop.

The JohnDeere Pavilion located in Moline, Ill. is considered one of the top five tourist attractions in the state and has welcomed guests from all 50 states and dozens of countries. It offers vintage and modern-day equipment and interactive exhibits devoted to the development of the company and agriculture around the world.

One exhibit answers a child’s question about where food comes from, while a 40-inch touch-screen display offers visitors a vision of the future of agriculture and the challenges of feeding the global population of tomorrow. A feature film called “Anthem: A Song of the Land” salutes the dedicated work of farm families worldwide.

The adjacent John Deere Store is a one-of-a-kind retail shop offering hundreds of unique, officially licensed John Deere products.

Also in Moline, the John Deere Collectors Center is the primary resource for enthusiasts and collectors interested in the history and heritage of the company and the collection of John Deere tractors, equipment and memorabilia.

It includes a living history exhibit that replicates a 1950s era dealership, complete with a customer service department to answer questions about parts and manuals for vintage equipment. The Center also hosts auctions and seminars and has an active tractor restoration area.

Recently, these destinations instituted a facility rental program, opening up the attractions to those looking for a unique location to hold a special event, such as a reception or company meeting.

The company also offers event planners and local caterers who work with groups to plan parties. Other sites to visit include the Deere family homes and Deere & Company’s World Headquarters.

A Trip Back in Time to the Roots of Farming