Certificates of excellence for three Maltese sites

Malta Independent 14/07/2014: Three cultural tourism sites in Malta have received certificates of excellence from TripAdvisor, in addition to one site receiving the Travellers’ Choice Award.
The Malta at War Museum in Vittoriosa and the Lascaris War Rooms in Valletta received the certificate, whilst Fort Rinella in Kalkara received the certificate and the award.

Whilst touring the Lascaris War Rooms, Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis promised further support to Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna, the NGO that runs the three cultural sites. He added that although Malta is hitting record tourism numbers, the need for quality tourism remains. “These cultural sites help bring quality tourists to the island,” he said.

Malta not just a country of sunshine and beaches
The period between October and March tends to see low tourism numbers, the Minister added. “Cultural tourism can help Malta’s tourism industry see success year round. Malta isn’t just a country of...read on.

Celebrating Malta’s historic pipe organs

Times of Malta 13/07/2014: Much of Malta’s rich heritage can be found in the island’s churches. The visible treasures seen by the visitor include the paintings and the fabric of the building, but one aspect is usually only given a cursory glance which, like an iceberg, is 90 per cent hidden – the organ.

This is usually perceived in the form of ornate casework high above the observer. The beauty of this instrument only comes alive when it is played and, unfortunately, we do not always have the opportunity to appreciate this aspect of its beauty...read more.

Tourism Minister returns from talks in London

Malta Independent 13/07/2014: Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis has returned to Malta following a visit to London where he engaged in a string of discussions with UK and Irish travel operators which operate to Malta.

The operators are known as Malta Specialists.

Dr Zammit Lewis explained the continuous work of the Maltese government and the MTA in terms of making Malta’s tourism product a better one.

The minister visited the MTA’s branch in Putney, London. He was welcomed by the branch’s director Alex Incorvaja and other officials...read more.

Leveraging Malta’s EU membership

Malta Independent 14/07/2014: Within the space of a year, the government has leveraged Malta’s status as a member of the European Union to its advantage on at least two memorable occasions that will undoubtedly go down in the annals of history: when it devised its oft-maligned citizenship by investment programme and, this week, when it signed a Memorandum of Understanding with China.

In the first instance, Malta leveraged the weight of its EU membership to attract wealthy individuals who for one reason or another are looking to settle in Europe or gain European citizenship and all that comes with it. This issue has bee...read on.

Great places to retire overseas (includes Malta:)

Yahoo Finance 10/07/2014: Retiring abroad doesn't have to be an adventure. In fact, in some popular retiree havens, you can get by just fine without learning the local language and you can have dinner every night with other American expats. You may have to wait longer for Internet service and travel a little farther to find a good hospital, but these emerging retirement destinations offer low living costs, natural beauty and a lifestyle you won't encounter in the...read on.

Enemalta, Shanghai Electric already targeting renewables projects in Europe – PM

Maltese delegation is shown array of Chinese products in eco-industrial park in Guiyang

Malta Today 10/07/2014: Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has told one of China's highest officials that Malta has already identified projects for Enemalta's Chinese partner to explore in Europe.


"Enemalta and Shanghai Electric have arlready earmarked projects for renewable energy in Europe," Muscat told Chinese vice-president Li Yuanchao in the run-up to a forum on industrial development.

Shanghai Electric owns a 33% stake in Malta's national utility corporation Enemalta…read on.

Malta: A truly magnificent destination for film makers

With news that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie will be filming here in Malta this autumn, the Maltese film industry is back in the international press. Engelbert Grech, Malta’s recently appointed Film Commissioner, spoke to Piers Allen about his love of film and the benefits this sector brings to Malta.

Malta Independent 12/07/2014: 
"How did you start out in the film industry?"

"From a very young age I was involved in television production and it was during my University years that I fell in love with film. After graduating in Communications at the University of Malta, I continued furthering my studies abroad. I have directed and produced various productions for local and international distribution and my knowledge and passion for films grew deeper and took a different dimension with each and every production…read on."

Italian film to be produced in Malta

Minister Manuel Mallia involved in discussions to introduce a soundstage in Malta. 

Malta Today 11/07/2014: An Italian production company will begin shooting a film as from July 21st. The film, ‘Andron’ is expected to generate a substantial income for Malta’s film industry and the country’s economy, whilst making use of Maltese companies and local workers.

The news was announced as a Maltese delegation led by Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia, accompanied by his Chief of Staff, Silvio Scerri, and Film Commissioner Engelbert Grech, visited Cinecitta’, with the aim of…read on.

S&P reaffirms Malta’s credit rating

Malta Independent 11/07/2014: The Ministry for Finance welcomes the appraisal of credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s, which affirms that Malta’s economy is stable and expects it to grow in the coming years thanks to the new Government’s energy reform, and policies that increased female labour participation.

"The S&P Credit Rating Report, published today, reaffirmed Malta’s credit rating at 'BBB+/A-2', with a stable outlook."

In its report, S&P notes of “Malta's fairly strong institutional and governance effectiveness and its resilient economy”, and forecasts “the Maltese economy to grow by 2.4% this year and just over 2% on average over the next…read on.

Big changes ahead for local banks

Times of Malta 10/07/2014: It is all so quiet presently on Malta’s banking front. But it seems as if few people out there are fully aware of what is happening, or what is being done by the banks in what is undoubtedly a most important area, that which concerns their simple ability to survive, viz. capital adequacy.

In our contemporary Maltese banking history the EU’s Fourth Capital Requirements Directive package, i.e. both the directive (CRD IV) and its related Capital Requirement Regulation (CRR), will certainly be featuring as having been an event as important as, say, what Y2000, adoption of the euro and Basel III, may have been. It is a regulatory package that at this moment neither bank shareholders nor…read on.

Malta Discusses Social Gambling Regulation

Poker News 10/07/2014: The Mediterranean island of Malta could soon become the first country in the world to regulate social casino games.

Following a draft legal notice filed with the Maltese parliament by the Lotteries and Gambling Authority (LGA), the country may be ready to adopt some sort of legislation to regulate "digital games with prizes" by the end of 2014.

Talking to Gaming Intelligence, LGA Executive Director Joe Cuschieri explained that "Malta has always been an innovator in proposing new regulations and legislation, hence as we did more than ten years ago [with iGaming], this niche needs to be regulated as well." ...read on.

Ancestors’ litter yields clues to ancient puzzle

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Times of Malta 07/07/2014: A team of archaeologists led by Caroline Malone from Queen’s University, Belfast, is sifting through litter dumped thousands of years ago in what is thought to be Gozo’s first village at Taċ-Ċawla.

And the cleaning habits of the Maltese do not seem to have changed much – the first residents used to keep their indoors spotless and, luckily for archaeologists, dump all their garbage outdoors.

“This is a new area of scientific research because the environment and economic world of those ancient people has never been explored,” she said, describing Malta’s prehistoric civilisation as exceptional and…read on.

MEPA launches scientific survey to protect dolphins and turtles

This project, which will span over three years, is also being co-financed by the Ministry for Sustainable Development, Environment and Climate Change and BOV, as the official co-financier.

Malta Today 04/07/2014: The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) has launched a boat-based survey which focuses directly on the scientific data-gathering for the protection of dolphins and turtles. The Authority said that these scientific surveys should lead to further necessary knowledge on the conservation status and lead to identification of potential important areas for these species, if found to be present in Malta.


The survey is part of a €1 million life project to improve the protection of the bottlenose dolphin (id-denfil ta’ geddumu qasir) and the loggerhead turtle (il-fekruna l-komuni) around the Maltese waters. read on.

Malta registers lowest unemployment rate since EU accession

Malta Independent 03/07/2014: Increasing numbers of people looking for work last year may have seen Malta slip down the rankings, but a reversal of the trend this year means that the country’s unemployment rate in May stood at an enviable 5.7%, the third-lowest rate in the EU.

Eurostat figures – which are seasonally adjusted – suggest that the unemployment rate decreased dramatically in just one month: it was more than 1 percentage point higher in April, at 6.8%. The rate is the lowest ever registered in Malta since Eurostat included it in its unemployment statistics in January 2000: the previous low was 5.9%, which was recorded in March 2008.

Inevitably, such a result led the Maltese government to issue a statement, in which it took credit for the…read on.

How Malta is Attracting American Tourists

Travel Pulse 12/07/2014: When it comes to tourism, the Mediterranean is a rough sea for little ships, no matter how beautifully they’re crafted. No destination on the Mediterranean is more interesting and culturally rich than the three small islands of Malta (Malta, Camino and Gozo). Sounds crazy, right? History, culture and scenic beauty is spread thickly all over the lands bordering that sea on all of its shores and islands, but located dead center as the gateway between the sea’s eastern and western shores.

Influenced by Phoenician, Roman, Greek, Arabic and North African cultures, it’s packed with the remains of a history that was prominent through all of the developmental ages of Europe, from Neolithic through the…read on.

Malta Arts Festival geared up and ready to go

Malta Independent 13/07/2014: The Malta Arts Festival is geared up and ready to go on 14 July.

Preparations for Malta’s largest arts festival, now in its ninth edition, have been ongoing for months. From stage hands to promotion and from artistic direction to performers, the festival mobilises large sections of the country’s cultural and artistic sector.

Artists from Croatia, the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, South Africa and Russia will join Maltese artists in a festival with 18 performances and a separate programme of workshops and master classes. Running from 14 July to 2 August, some of these events will be held in the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Pjazza Teatru Rjal and the newly-restored Fort St Elmo.

“Whether you want to be charmed by contemporary duets in an open-air theatre, weep at Lear’s agony or be moved by a circus which blends poetry and…read on.

Maltese Islands - best overseas destination for groups

Times of Malta 09/07/2014: The Maltese Islands have been awarded ‘Best Overseas Destination For Groups’ by the readers of Group Travel Organiser magazine.

The glittering ceremony took place in London during a gala evening at the Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel.

Malta beat off finalists Germany, Amsterdam, Austria, Belgium, Jersey and Lake Garda to win the award.

Over 400 key industry players came together for the event celebrating excellence in the supply of services to group travel organisers in more than 20 categories. (source)

Opinion: Malta's best is yet to come

Malta Independent 10/07/2014: Over the last months our country and its economy have taken a turn for the better. Such developments did not happen because of a simple change of individuals at the top. This change is taking place because the new political leadership of the country has recognised that our people and our entrepreneurs have got what it takes to propel Malta to new strengths.

The Prime Minister recently spoke about turning Malta into a new Dubai or into a new Singapore. This produced different reactions, however, most agreed upon the need for our country to embark on a new project, and new aims. This administration has recognised our nation's true potential and wants to engage the Maltese in actualizing the aspirations that we have for our island state.

We shall not just settle into being the small European state with the commendable economic performance. Malta has bigger aspirations; our country has the potential of becoming a success to be emulated by other small island states globally. We, as a nation, and as a people have the capacity and the ability to achieve

Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on google_plusone_share Share on linkedin Share on pinterest_share More Sharing Services 13 PrintEmail Wednesday, July 2, 2014, 13:35 Medserv opens solar energy farm

Times of Malta 02/07/2014: Medserv has set up Malta's first solar panel farm at its headquarters in Malta Freeport.

The 8000-panel farm, costing some €4m, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, who plugged it into the national grid. It will produce two megawatts of electricity (the equivalent of electricity used by 800 households) which will sold to Enemalta.

The plant is spread over 20,000 square metres.

Dr Muscat said this project fell squarely in the government’s agenda of promoting green energy. He criticised the feed-in tariffs under the previous administration and said the government was working towards having more sustained feed-in rates to investors.

He confirmed that one of the projects that the government has in mind is to convert the rooftops of government industrial estates into solar farms. (source)

Malta Film Fund issues call for applications

Deadline for the Malta Film Fund 2014 – Action 2: Production Support is 7 August.

MaltaToday 01/07/2014: Applications for film projects in all genres (including animation) from new and established filmmakers that aim to promote Maltese storytelling, Maltese stories and Maltese cinema are being accepted for the Malta Film Fund 2014 – Action 2: Production Support.

An independent evaluation panel of professionals including foreign experts from the film industry are brought together to assess and review applications and to administer awards. Deadline for submissions is noon, 7 August.

The objective of the Malta Film Fund is to nurture and back the development and production of Maltese films (i.e. Feature Films, Short Films (production only), Creative Documentaries, and High Quality International TV Drama Series) which in turn...read on.

Malta Real Estate Report Published - 93.2% of Maltese Attach Importance to Home Ownership, Global Residence Scheme to Boost Luxury Market

As the Maltese real estate market continues to flourish, Real Estate company RE/MAX Malta, commissioned a research company to conduct a quantitative survey to understand the market clearer. The company also released information on property prices and availability of homes on the Island.

 

PRWeb UK 01/07/2014:RE/MAX Real Estate Agency in Malta recently released a market report which has identified a number of trends in the Maltese real estate industry. The company hired Informa Ltd., a research company to conduct two surveys that have focused on, the confidence in home ownership in Malta and the confidence the Maltese population has in real estate agencies.

The company also released statistics on property listing prices from their extensive database of over 15, 000 active property listings, to shed some light on average property prices related to property types and different geographic areas in the Maltese Islands.

The Informa Ltd. survey was a quantitative study of a net sample of 500 respondents. A targeted populace was stratified according to the various areas in Malta & Gozo in order to represent the Maltese population. The statistics from...read on.

Maltese migrants in Australia losing mother tongue

Study finds that second-generation Maltese migrants are losing their familiarity with the Maltese language, while still viewing Malta as a desirable holiday destination.

Australian Comedian Adam Hills can trace his
Maltese ancestry to the 1400s

MaltaToday 01/07/2014: Second-generation Maltese migrants in Australia are rapidly losing the Maltese language, are viewed favourably by the Australian population in comparison to other ethnic groups, and remain fond of Malta as a holiday destination.

This emerges from a survey conducted by Maurice N. Cauchi for the Maltese Community Council in Victoria.

Entitled ‘The Second Generation in Australia – A survey of Maltese-background persons’ and published in April, the study sought to identify key differences between the first generation of Maltese migrants who moved to Australia, and the generation that followed them.

Identifying that 65% of the second generation were aged below 50, the study found that the majority of these residents were born to parents from mixed...read on.