What's on the international radar about Malta? And what are the less known interesting facts?
I’m travelling outside Europe in a destination which attracts visitors from all around the world. As a solo traveller, I often find myself in the same conversation with a stranger. Invariably, the question comes up, “Where are you from?” When I reply, “Malta,” I'm often surprised by the range of responses this elicits.
Gone are the days when the inevitable reply would have been “Where is Malta?” Instead, I get all sorts of reactions from laughter (“Ah, the country that wanted to remove the penis monument because of the Pope!”) to indignation (“Any news on who killed your journalist?”).
I’m quite surprised by the range of responses. It goes to show what strange facts people hear on the media, and how little they know about the actual bigger picture. So here’s a little of what you might have heard, and well, what you really should know about Malta!
6 things giving Malta an international reputation
In chronological order from the earliest to the latest, these are some of the things that have put Malta on the world map over the years.
1. The Eurovision
This one is amusing, especially when somebody from, say, Israel, has never heard of Malta except for our song-contest entry. We need to give special thanks to the third-place results of Mary Spiteri (1992) and Chiara (1998) and second-place results for Ira Losco (2002) and Chiara (2005) once again, for this claim to fame!
2. The phallic monument
We tried to hide the monument from the eyes of the Pope in April 2010, only to have it on everyone’s lips instead! The news of the Luqa Mayor’s shame and his request for the removal of the famous phallic-shaped monument actually hit international news as far as India, believe it or not!
3. Passports for sale
This one is well known and maybe a bit too close for comfort. Political bodies and politicians have shouted out (loud) about how immoral and dangerous Malta’s passport scheme is, while failing to recognise just how many countries around the world actually sell passports, including several EU states (Austria, Cyprus, Turkey, Greece, Portugal, Spain and Bulgaria, and even the US, the UK and Australia as well as at least 12 other countries.)
4. The Azure Window collapse
Most definitely an international news story, the collapse of the Maltese icon in March 2017 was broadcast all around the world. It was akin to the Egyptian pyramids being stolen by an alien spacecraft or something. Malta would never be the same again.
5. Malta as a tax haven
I can see where this is coming from, and it's hard to shake off when international corporations enjoy a tax rate of as little as 5 per cent compared to the 35 per cent paid by local businesses. This is thanks to a complex tax refund system where shareholders can claim back up to six-sevenths of their tax paid in Malta. I bet the locals wish they were paying less tax!
6. The murdered journalist
This has really given Malta a bad name. Since the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia hit the news in October 2017, despite all that has been done to track down the perpetrators of this heinous act, Malta's reputation continues to suffer as a result. Oh dear.
And now, 6 reasons Malta should have a worldwide reputation
Malta is actually a lovely place to discover beyond phalluses, song and sunshine. These are some of the reasons the world should know about Malta.
1. Its ultra-stable economy
Malta’s workforce and economy at large are certainly thriving. The unemployment rate in Malta is one of lowest in the EU at 3.8 per cent in August 2018. Even during the worldwide financial crisis of 2007-2008, Malta continued to sail along smoothly, while its European counterparts were in crisis.
2. Free (& best) medical care
This is no small thing. Malta offers free medical care for all kinds of testing, treatment, hospitalisation, surgery, childbirth and rehabilitation to all its residents. This and other great social benefits are funded by a social security contribution similar to a tax. Foreigners and expats also benefit from the system.
3. Being unique in the world
Despite having a population of just 460,000 people, Malta has a unique identity, language and culture. It has been influenced by every occupier in its 7,000 year history. Located in the heart of the Mediterranean, its language is the only Semitic language written in Latin script. Inside Christian churches, God is referred to as Alla. Its culture is paradoxically beautiful.
4. Being home to the oldest man-made structures
Before Gobekli Tepe in Turkey was discovered, Malta’s 26 megalithic sites were considered the oldest man-made structures in the world. They are estimated to be 5,500 years old and are older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids.
5. Having shaped European history
As the Mediterranean base of the Allies against the Axis forces, Malta was crucial for the turnout of WWII. During the Great Siege of 1565, holding out against the Ottoman invasion was crucial in maintaining Christian Europe, historians say.
6. Being a very happy place
Malta is the 22nd happiest country, out of 104 surveyed in 2018, and that’s no mean feat. It has a wonderful mix of beach life, entertainment, history and culture with 300 days of sunshine to enjoy them all. Who’s complaining?