In recent years, Malta has become a desirable tourist destination. The number of inbound tourists in Malta increased in 2021 over the previous year, after experiencing a dramatic drop in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Overall, roughly 968 thousand travellers visited Malta in 2021, while 659 thousand did the same in the first year of the health crisis (Statista Research Department, 2022).
Malta offers tourists warm weather, scenic views, deep blue water, and a rich culture to immerse yourself in. It also has a fascinating history (including Manoel Fort) that is sure to enchant visitors. It has everything someone could want from a European location.
So, if you’re thinking about taking your yacht charter to Malta, this blog is designed to offer inspiration on the sights and attractions you should keep an eye out for during your trip.
In June 2022, a total of 218,462 inbound tourists visited Malta for holiday purposes, followed by 16,953 tourists for business purposes. The largest share of inbound tourists were aged between 25 and 44 (43.3 per cent),
followed by the 45-64 age bracket (27.6 per cent). French, German and Italian residents made up 36.0 per cent of total inbound tourists – National Statistics Office Malta
The marvel of Manoel Island
The first region in Malta that we’ll focus on is Manoel Island. Originally known as Bishop’s Island, after the Bishop of Malta purchased it in 1570, Manoel Island has since become a bustling tourist attraction. The island’s current name comes from Portuguese Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena, who built the Manoel Fort on the island in the 1720s.
Modern-day Manoel Island is a tourist hotspot that draws in more than one million tourists every year. Satisfied visitors always cite the island’s picturesque views and crystal clear water as its standout features. Another one of the island’s highlights is the aforementioned Manoel Fort. Built in the 18th century, the fort was severely damaged during the Second World War but has since been restored and remains in good condition today and is well worthy of a visit.
The fort has previously been the focus of ghost stories, with many people in the 1940s regularly claiming to have seen an apparition of a Black Knight watching them as they worked to restore the fort.
However, if ghost stories don’t succeed in arousing your curiosity, you may be surprised to hear that quite a pivotal scene in Game of Thrones was actually filmed in Manoel Fort! There aren’t too many places in the world that can be labelled significant in both classic and modern history, but Manoel Fort is clearly an exception!
As well as the beautiful weather, scenery, and historical landmarks, Manoel Island is also home to Manoel Island Yacht Yard. The yard was originally formed as part of the British Admiralty shipyards in Malta, dating back to the early part of the 1800’s – Those traditional values and skills have been carried forward in the way the team at the yard approach their work today – adopting modern techniques but sticking to their core principals.
Today, Manoel Island Yacht Yard is fully-equipped to perform maintenance, overhauls, repairs, refits and conversions on timber, steel, aluminium and GRP yachts:
- Engineering and electronic repairs and installations
- Gel coat and fiberglass repairs
- Undercover spray painting by a specialised painting team qualified and experienced in the market-leading coating systems
- Teak decking and traditional joinery
- Repairs and re-caulking of decks and hull seams
- De-stepping / stepping and tuning of masts
- Life raft repairs service and certification
- Hull and stainless steel polishing
- Propeller repairs and bow thruster installations
- Sales and service of marine fire fighting systems
- Refrigeration and A/C repairs and installations
Other Maltese highlights
Outside of Manoel Island, Malta also has several other attractions to entertain guests during their charter.
In fact, the Maltese government has entered into a partnership with the Royal Malta Yacht Club to transform the archipelago into an ideal destination for superyacht events and culture, as well as training and upskilling local youngsters and empowering them to become skilled professionals within the industry.
The partnership also sees several yacht-related attractions take place in Malta throughout the year. Events such as boat shows, regattas, power racing, yachting awards and conferences are all commonplace, helping to create an environment that’s extremely hospitable to sailing and motor yachts. Malta truly is a burgeoning maritime destination!
So, if you’re interested in experiencing Manoel Island or indeed anywhere else in Malta, explore our website today to learn what we can do for you and your yacht while you’re here. You can also contact us directly if you have any questions you’d like us to answer!
