European low cost airline easyJet has taken over European routes previously served by British Airways, and the new competition is already seeing flight and holiday prices to Malta tumble for summer 2008.

This year has started well for the Malta holidays and hotel industry, with an increase in visitors for the first few months compared to 2006 - a good indication that if the off peak season is doing well the rest of the year could also see good gains in holiday tourists to the Mediterranean island.

More movie-makers are looking to Malta when they need a beautiful, tranquil or exotic location to film their latest movie. Over the years, several movies and television shows have been filmed in Malta, a small island nation located in the Mediterranean Sea.

The trees have lost their leaves, it's raining, the rare winter sunshine has to fight through grey skies and you've well and truly got the winter blues. Life doesn't have to be dreary I've found – not when I can take winter holidays in Malta.

If you're wondering where to go on holiday this year and have done the usual tourist hotspots - why not visit Malta, a little but friendly Mediterranean island?

Queen Elizabeth has been Britain and the Commonwealth's monarch for over 50 years, but recently found time to make a visit to Malta where she lived with Prince Philip after they married.

Local governments of high-tourist destinations are taking matters of environmental protection into their own hands. To maintain sustainable tourism in the Balearic Islands, Mallorca promotes a campaign that endorses environmental protection. Similar campaigns exist in the Caribbean.

Spain enjoys the position of being the number one holiday destination in Europe. But a Spanish airline has just begun flights to Malta, boosting the small Mediterranean's tourism industry for 2008.

Malta has a reputation for good sunshine holidays in the Mediterranean - and a fleet of 1950's Leyland buses that have become a recognisable part of life for the island's visitors.

Good news stories and new airlines wanting to fly to Malta has resulted in 2007 being the best year for the holiday island in six years - and 2008 could get better still.