Malta Country & Tourist Information

Location
Mediterranean, south of Sicily.

Area
316 sq km (122 sq miles).

Population
401,880 (CIA estimate 2007).

Population Density
1,272 per sq km.

Capital
Valletta.
Population:  6,315 (2005).

Government
Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1964.

Language
Maltese (a Semitic language) and English are the official languages. Italian is also widely spoken.

Religion
91% Roman Catholic.

Time
GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from the last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Electricity
240 volts AC, 50Hz. UK-style three-pin plug are in use.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi since 2004.

Head of State
President Fenech Adami since 2004.

Recent History
Lawrence Gonzi took office in March 2004, a few weeks before Malta’s entry into the European Union. Mr Gonzi said Malta should seize the opportunities afforded by its imminent EU membership and promised to boost tourism and to create favorable conditions for investment. Since joining the EU, Malta has suffered increasing problems with immigation. The country joined the eurozone on 1 January 2008.

Telephone
Country code: 356. There are no area codes. Public telephone booths are widely available.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good.

Internet
There are a few Internet cafes.

Media
Daily and weekly publications appear in both Maltese and English. Italian television and radio are also received. Italian TV channels are still very popular in Malta.

Post
Good postal services exist within the island.

Press
• Maltese dailies include In-Nazzjon Taghna and L’Orizzont.
• English-language dailies are The Malta Independent and The Times of Malta.
• Malta Today.

Radio
• Networks include Radio Malta, Super One Radio, owned by the Malta Labor Party.
• Radio 101 is owned by the Nationalist Party.
• Commercial station Bay Radio and Catholic Church station RTK.

Below are listed the Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
10 Feb Feast of St Paul's Shipwreck.
19 Mar St Joseph's Day.
31 Mar Freedom Day. 
10 Apr Good Friday.
1 May Labor Day.
7 Jun Sette Giugno (Commemoration of 1919 Riot).
29 Jun Feast of St Peter and St Paul.
15 Aug Assumption Day.
8 Sep Our Lady of Victories.
21 Sep Independence Day.
8 Dec Immaculate Conception.
13 Dec Republic Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
10 Feb Feast of St Paul's Shipwreck.
19 Mar St Joseph's Day.
31 Mar Freedom Day. 
2 Apr Good Friday.
1 May Labor Day.
7 Jun Sette Giugno (Commemoration of 1919 Riot).
29 Jun Feast of St Peter and St Paul.
14 Aug Assumption Day.
8 Sep Our Lady of Victories.
21 Sep Independence Day.
8 Dec Immaculate Conception.
13 Dec Republic Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

Contact Information:

Malta High Commission in the UK
Malta House, 36-38 Piccadilly, London W1J OLE, UK
Tel: (020) 7292 4800.
Website: www.gov.mt
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1230.

Malta Tourist Office in the UK
Unit C, Parkhouse, 14 Northfields, London SW18 1DD, UK
Tel: (020) 8877 6990.
Website: www.visitmalta.com

Embassy of Malta in the USA
2017 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 462 3611.
Website: www.gov.mt


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