Recent terrorist attacks across Europe have given Maltese holidaymakers pause for thought but done little to alter their final plans, according to local travel agents.
The heightened terror threat has had a significant impact on tourism around the continent, with areas worst hit in recent months reporting heavy declines in arrivals.
Terrorism and political instability in Turkey have led to tourist numbers in June, even before the attempted military coup, being 41 per cent lower than this time last year, while travel agent Thomas Cook said this week they were experiencing “significantly lower demand” after the Brussels airport bombings in April.
France has also been heavily hit following attacks last November in Paris and this month in Nice, with Air France reporting a 5.2 per cent drop in revenue.
Maltese travel agents, however, told The Sunday Times of Malta that few local travellers were letting the threat get in the way of their summer holiday plans.
“There is concern, but it doesn’t mean that people aren’t travelling,” said Noel Farrugia, managing director of Brittania travel. “These threats are becoming part and parcel of our lives but we are still getting new bookings and all our tours are going out. Some people have thought of cancelling but I think most people understand that it can happen anywhere.”
These threats are becoming part and parcel of our lives but we are still getting new bookings
Mr Farrugia added that he had noted a slight shift from cities towards countryside and mountain destinations, while several agents who spoke to this newspaper said Paris in particular appeared to be suffering slightly, with fewer groups heading out in the aftermath of the attacks, although the trend seemed to be stabilising again.
“People move on quite quickly,” a Hamilton Travel representative said. “A couple of people ask about it when they’re booking, but they’re individual cases, definitely not the majority.”
Maltese travellers also appear to have taken to heart the notion that security in destinations that recently suffered an attack is typically heightened, according to Rocs Group CEO Colin Aquilina.
“People realise that the ultimate aim of these attacks is to spread fear,” he said. “After every attack the initial reaction is for more people to ask about safety and security, but people are still travelling, although you may have individual cases of people picking one destination over another.”
The current mood across Europe, on the other hand, could also have a positive effect for Malta’s own tourism industry, as the island is still considered a safe haven amidst the tension on the continent.
British newspaper The Express recently published a map of terror threats for holidaymakers planning their summer getaways.
The map, based on travel advice by the British Foreign Office, lists Malta among the areas of least concern in terms of terrorism. Meanwhile, the UK, France, Germany and Belgium – as well as Turkey and Russia – are listed as having high levels of known terrorist activity.
“There is a low threat from terrorism [in Malta],” the latest Foreign Office advice states. “But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public places, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.”
Tony Zahra, president of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA), said that with fewer safe destinations to choose from, Malta could easily see an rise in inbound tourism as a result, although there is so far no official data on the matter.
“People are always going to look for a safe place for their travels, and it’s one of the boxes we tick when we’re promoting Malta,” he said. “It’s not high up on the list because it should be expected, but it’s certainly something we consider.”