Accommodation
The Maltese Islands offer varied accommodation in Hotels, Holiday Complexes, Tourist Villages, Guest Houses and in Self-catering villages and Apartments. These are classified - by the Hotels and Catering Establishments Board (HCEB) - according to internationally accepted standards, and are obliged to exhibit their certificate confirming their designated classification.

Airlines
The National carrier of Malta is Air Malta. Its IATA is KM. Air Malta operates a fleet composed of Boeing B-737's, Airbus A320's and Avro International RJ70's. Malta Air Charters, an Air Malta subsidiary, operates a scheduled helicopter service between Malta and Gozo. The following Airlines operate scheduled services to Malta: Aeroflot, Alitalia, Austrian Airlines, Balkan Bulgarian Airlines, Corsair, Egypt Air, Libyan Arab Airlines (pending UN security Council resolution), LTU International Airways, Lufthansa, Swissair, Transavia and Tuninter. A number of other airlines operate charter services to Malta.

Airport
A new passenger terminal, 10kms from Valletta, went into commercial service in February 1992, replacing Luqa International. With the commissioning of the new terminal, Malta's Airport was renamed Malta International Airport (IATA airport code is MLA, ICAO code LMML). Facilities at MIA (landside) include - Airline ticketing office, baby care rooms, bank, three cafeterias, car hire offices, chapel, drugstore, flight information counter, florist, international telephone/fax/telex service, news agent, post office, restaurant, tourist information counter and a viewing gallery. Facilities of MIA (airside) include - Baby care facilities, bar/cafeteria, duty free shops - arrivals and departure halls, restaurant, two VIP/executive lounges, the Europa Lounge is operated by Air Malta, whilst La Vallette Executive Lounge is run by the Terminal Operating Company - Malta International Airport Ltd.

Beaches
There are several sandy beaches, especially on the North of Malta; the best are Mellieha Bay, Golden Sands, Ghajn Tuffieha and Paradise Bay. In the South, the best sandy beach is Pretty Bay in Birzebbugia. In Gozo Ramla Bay stands out for its beautiful red sand. Rock bathing is possible at almost all other beach sites. The sea temperature averages 22.80 in summer.

Banks
APS Bank, Bank of Valletta, HSBC.

Casino
American roulette, chemin de fer and Black Jack are played according to International Rules at the Dragonara Palace Casino in St. Julians. The Casino has also a variety of high-tech slot machines. The Slots Palace, also located in the Dragonara Palace grounds and with an independent entrance at the rear of the main gaming rooms, has the widest variety of slot machines in the islands.

Charge & Credit cards
Access, American Express, Carte Blanche, Diners Club International, Master Card and VISA are accepted by most Hotels and Restaurants and a good number of retail outlets.

Chemists
These are found throughout the Island and are open during normal shopping hours. On Sundays chemists open by rotation from 0900 to 1200hrs; check Sunday Newspapers.

Conference & Incentive Travel
Malta’s growing range of attractions and facilities are proving to be valuable motivation tools for growing body of international companies. And the islands continue to enjoy growth in the number of incentive groups visiting both Malta and Gozo, and in the overall tally of Conferences held here.

Currency
The Maltese currency is the Euro. Malta changed to the Euro on 1st January 2008.

Currency Exchange & Restrictions
Cash, Travelers and Euro Cheques can be exchanges at banks, foreign bureau, most hotels and restaurants and at larger shops. Exchange rates offered by hotels and restaurants and shops are inferior to those available at banks. There is no limit on the amount of foreign currency imported by individuals into Malta, provided that it is declared on arrival.

Driving
Driving is on the left. There is a speed limit of 80 kilometers per hour (kph), 50 miles per hour (mph) on highways, 50 kph (30 miles) in urban areas. Third party insurance is advisable. International and national driving licenses are acceptable.

Electricty
The electrical supply is 240 volts, single phase, 50 cycles. The 13 amp, three-pin rectangular sockets are used in Malta.

Ferries
Domestic: Intra-islands - The Gozo Channel Company operates a Ro-Ro Services from Cirkewwa and San Maison in Malta to Mgarr, Gozo. International: Several companies operate services that link Malta with mainland Italy, Sicily and Tunisia. Available are Ro-Ro and high-speed catamaran frequencies. There is also a regular Ro-Ro service between Valletta and Tripoli.

Government
The Government is an Independent, constitutional Republic. The President is the Head of State though his role is essential ceremonial as executive power lies with the Prime Minister and his Cabinet. Sixty five member sit in the House of Representatives, Malta’s parliament, housed in the Grand Master’s Palace.

Heritage
Furthermore, MTA supports Tour Operators in joint promotional activities, mainly of a tactical nature. These include trade orientated Programmes to encourage wholesalers sell the islands more aggressively in rich markets besides assisting the trade to produce special leaflets on Malta and to print advertising posters and bill boards.

Language
Maltese and English are the official languages of Malta. Italian is also widely spoken and an increasing number speak German and French.

Language Schools
Malta, with its English-speaking tradition, has become a highly popular destination for those wanting to learn English as a second language. Travel-Malta School of Languages offer executive intensive and vacation courses. Executive courses are generally offered throughout the year, while vacation courses are offered during the summer months.

Malta's Climate
Malta’s climate is strongly influenced by the sea and has a typical Mediterranean flavor. Winters are mild with rare occurrences of cold weather brought by north and north-east winds from Central Europe. Summers are hot, dry and very sunny. Day-Time temperatures in Summer are often by cooling sea breezes, but in spring and autumn, a very hot wind from Africa occasionally brings unpleasant high temperatures. This is the sirocco, which also affects Greece and Italy; in Malta the air is usually rather drier because of the short sea track from the African coasts. Annual rainfall in the Maltese Islands is low - averaging 578mm a year - and the length of the dry season in summer is longer than in Southern Italy. The Islands have a very sunny climate with a daily average of five to six hours of sunshine in mid-Winter and more than 12 hours a day in Summer.

Places of Interest
Malta has been called an open-air Museum, and rightly so. For a small country, the Maltese Islands are richly endowed with archaeological sites, historical monuments, magnificent churches, opulent palaces and museums.

Click here to view the Places of Interest

Religion
The majority are Roman Catholic. There are small Anglican, Church of Scotland, Greek Orthodox, Jewish and Methodist communities.

Telecommunication
Local and international telephone calls can be made from Hotel Rooms and credit and charge cards are normally accepted. Facsimile machines are also available at most hotels, but many no longer have telex machines. Mobile Phones and Internet services as also available.

Time
Malta is on Central European Time (CET), that is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in winter and two hours from last Sunday in March until the last Sunday in September. The Islands are six hours ahead of Eastern Seaboard Time (EST) in winter and seven ahead from the last Sunday in March until the last Sunday in September.

Tourism
The Tourism Ministry for Tourism is the government bodies which interprets and actions the policy on the subject of Tourism. The Malta Tourism Authority (MTA), is the secretariat’s marketing aim to this function. The Product Development Section within the Tourism Secretariat is on the other hand primarily involved in the upgrading of the Maltese Tourist Product. Besides administering and implementing the Tourism Market Plan which was in fact prepared by the Haworth and Haworth Consulting Group; this section is actively involved in the upgrading of the following aspects of the Product.