Malta: IB Geography Tourism Project

Fast Facts:

Area: 316 km² 

Population:  413,609 (2008 estimate), Density: 1,298/km²

^{Capital City: Valletta}

Largest City: Birkirkara

Ethnicity: Maltese- 95.3%, British- 1.6%, other 3.1%

Official Languages: English & Maltese

Independence:

-From the UK: September 21, 1964

-As a Republic: December 13, 19

Dominant Religion: Roman Catholic

Major Ports/Harbours:

• Grand Harbour 
• Marsamxerr Harbour
• Marsaxlokk Harbour
• Cirkewwa Harbour
• Mgarr Harbour

Airports/ Airlines:

• Malta International Airport
• Harbour Air Malta
• National Airline: Air Malta

Only the 3 largest islands of Malta are inhabited: Malta Island, Gozo, and Comino.

Malta's smaler islands include:

• Barbaganni Rock
• Cominotto
• Delmarva Island
• Filfla
• Fessej Rock
• Fungus Rock
• Għallis Rock
• Halfa Rock
• Large Blue Lagoon Rocks
• Island of St. Paul/ Selmunett Island
• Manoel Island
• Mistra Rocks
• Tac-Cawl Rock
• Qawra Point/Ta` Fraben Island
• Small Blue Lagoon Rocks
• Sala Rock
• Xrob l-Għaġin Rock

Major Resources:

-Limestone

Major Industires: 

-Foreign trade 

-Manufacturing (electronics and textiles)

-Tourism

-Film production

-Banking and Finance

List of Hotels:

• British Hotel
• Castille Hotel
• Grand Harbour Hotel
• Osborne Hotel
• Days Inn Hotel
• Europa Hotel
• Fortina Spa Resort, 
• Hotel Roma
• The Diplomat Hotel
• Imperial Hotel
• Metropole Hotel
• New Tower Palace Hotel
• Park Hotel
• Plaza Hotels
• Plevna Hotel
• Preluna Hotel & Spa
• Roosendaal Hotels Ltd.
• Sliema Chalet Hotel
• Sliema Hotel, The Strand
• The Marina Hotel, Tignè
• The Victoria Hotel
• The Windsor Hotel
• Tigne Development, Tignè
• Aquasun Services Ltd., 
• Baystreet Hotel Complex, 
• Cavallieri Hotel, Spinola Bay
• Corinthia Marina Hotel, 
• Corinthia San Gorg Hotel, 
• Golden Tulip Vivaldi Hotel,
• Hilton Malta, 
• Hotel Bernard, 
• Hotel Juliani
• InterContinental Malta, 
• Rokna Hotel
• La Vallette Resort, 
• Miramare Hotel
• Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort, 
• Rafael Spinola Hotel,
• St George's Park Complex, 
• The New Alexandra Palace Hotel,
• The President Hotel, 
• The White House (ESE Residence), 
• Tropicana Hotel, 
• Valentina Hotel, 
• Viking Hotel, Spinola Bay
• Villa Rosa Hotel, 

Malta is known around the world for its breathtaking coastline, treating tourists to amazing scenery and an aeshtetically pleasing combination of azure-blue seas, limestone caverns, and clear skies. Malta also hosts some of the worlds most popular diving locations due to the clarity of the Maltese waters. In addition, Malta offers varied marine life and wreckc for divers and marine enthusiasts to enjoy.

For the cultural tourist, Malta offers a wealth cultural and historic treasures. In fact Malta is home to some prehistoric temples that pre-date Stonehenge and the pyramids. Even as a modern nation, Malta still maintains its own unique traditional character. In fact Malta's island of Gozo has been described as the last unspoilt island of the mediterranean.

 Malta also hosts some of Europe's most beautiful beaches. With a mediterranean climate, long summers and spectacular view, Malta's beaches are a luxury tourists cannot afford to miss. Malta's one of a kind beaches have been preserved in their natural form and spared from residential property development. While in Malta, be sure to visit the Blue Lagoon on Comino Island, whose turquoise blue waters  offer clarity and astonishing beauty.

Maltese cuisine is very Mediterranean, using fresh, locally availabe produce and seafood.

 While many dishes are native to the island, some popular Maltese recipes reflect Sicilian and SouthernItalian as well as traces of Tunisian, Spanish, Berber, French and British influences (such as qassatat). Be sure to try one of Malta's distinctive and popular local dishes such as ftira biż-żejt, ġbejniet, pastizzi and Ross il-Forn.