SALES of villa holidays in Malta and Gozo are expected to rise following the relaunch of Thomson’s OSL brand and expansion of Meon Villas’ programme to the islands.
Malta is among 11 destinations featured by OSL, which is expanding retail distribution to embrace a growing band of independent agencies. Business development director Kim Hampson said: “Villas and apartments in the islands represent excellent value and show up very well in price comparisons with other destinations.”
In high season, from mid-July to the end of August, villas in Malta lead in at around £686 per person, based on six people sharing a three-bedroom property, compared to £732 for a similar deal in the resort of Albufeira in the Algarve. Prices include flights and car hire.
The company is targeting between 1,500 and 2,000 clients next year for its Malta and Gozo selection of apartments and converted farmhouses in Sannat, Kercem, San Lawrenz and Gharb.
Hampson said: “In Malta we cater for two types of client. The Malta properties are closer to a mass-market product, those in Gozo provide a more individual type of break.”
First Choice brand Meon Villas has added further Malta properties after seeing a sizeable increase in sales this year. In 2000 the operator will feature 17 properties in Malta and 11 in Gozo. Marketing director Susan Williams said: “Though we saw a downturn for Malta and Gozo in the mid-1990s, there’s been a significant upturn in the past two years.”
Meon’s Malta offer includes villas on the Santa Maria estate, near Mellieha, and houses at Naxxar, Gharghur and Zurrieq. The Gozo programme is based on converted stone farmhouses in the villages of Qala, Ghasri, Ghar Ilma, Xaghra and Gharb.