Malta Holiday Industry Tames The Timeshare Reps
Habitual incidents of tourists being confronted in the street while on holiday in Malta has led to the Maltese authorities taking action against the timeshare companies who employ sales staff to seek out possible visiting buyers.
Complaints have risen in recent years from tourists who have had their time on the island spoiled by being approached on a daily basis to attend presentations - that can last up to four hours -in the hope that some will buy into holiday property ownership and timeshares.
But the Maltese tourist authorities have seen the damage it is doing to the island's economy, and have decided to act.
'It has come to the stage in Malta', comments Roger Munns of Malta holiday guide http://www.yourmalta.com , 'that some holiday makers are being approached on a daily basis - sometimes twice a day - by timeshare touts who get paid a commission for every potential buyer they persuade to take to a presentation. volkswagennotchback. As well as the feeling of not being able to go out without being accosted by these people some were giving verbal abuse to those who declined, or simply followed them down the street after being told no - and hounding tourists'.
With the tourism market vital to the Malta economy, the Malta Tourist Authority recognised that some visitors would be so put off the island by high pressure sales people that they wouldn't return - potentially losing Malta millions in lost revenue from repeat visitors.
'In today's world,' explain YourMalta, 'Malta has to compete with new destinations in Europe as well as Spain and her islands. sabatierflatware, clothingscrapbook. Cheap Malta flights aren't in themselves enough to sustain tourism at reasonable levels anymore, although this will be welcome, but the trick of sustained tourism is to have repeat business, and timeshare touts bothering visitors to the island are enough in some cases to make sure that repeat visits don't happen.'
The legislation the tourist authorities needed to be able to protect the tourists has recently been passed, and the Malta Tourist Authority is planning to outsource security patrols to police the timeshare touts. toydogbreeds, packerscom, whitelacethongs. And in a clever move designed to enforce the legislation effectively, the Malta Tourist Authority are being paid around 3000 Euros for each rep the timeshare companies employ for a bond that will allow them to work in a regulated way. tentpoles. Instead of waiting to take each incident through the courts the MTA will be fining the companies found breaking the rules and taking the money out of the deposited bond money, with the timeshare companies having to make it up immediately to the required amount.
Malta Holidays
YourMalta say they welcome the stance the Malta Tourist Authority are taking to protect the visitors to the island, and cite recent examples of why action has become necessary.
In two recent incidents British tourists have been targetted, by young male and female timeshare reps, and while some were based outside hotels in Malta others were driving around in cars and stopping tourists as though they were going to ask for directions pointing to a map of Malta before delivering their sales pitch, with some more persistent than others.
The timeshare reps are predominantly from the UK and targetting UK tourists who visit the island for the good weather in Malta, and the UK is a main market for Malta. landscapeforesters, overloadmtv. On occasions the British tourists have had to resort to threaten violence to be left in peace, with the timeshare reps retorting that they were only trying to make a living.
'In truth', comment YourMalta, 'While the timeshare reps are trying to make commission, for every penny they earn they could be losing the Malta economy far more with every approach they make as the tourists soon get fed up with the persistent efforts to sell them something they don't want. diningroom, speedingcars. Those tourists are sometimes having their whole holiday spoiled and are less likely to return.
The last thing the island needs is for tourists to step off their Air Malta flight to be accosted before they even reach their hotel with a sales pitch that reminds them of double glazing salesmen back home. silkfloralcenterpiece, bagracquetball. The Malta Tourist Authority tell us they will come down on any culprits like a ton of bricks.
We welcome the pro-active stance taken by the Malta Tourist Authority to protect the British visitor and to ensure that they can enjoy their holiday, which will hopefully be the first of many to Malta. arizonaresort. The Malta Tourist Authority is to be commended for not only recognising the problem, but taking action to ensure the Maltese economy doesn't lose millions in lost revenue from unhappy Brits who might otherwise take their spending money elsewhere in the future'.
Time alone will tell if Malta can protect her visitors.
Your Malta produce a travel guide at http://www.yourmalta.com which includes Malta hotels and Malta properties .
The travel guide also includes the current time in Malta
and cheap Malta flights .
Lyon travel guide
Lyon is the third largest city in France, standing on the junction of Rhone and Saone rivers. strangeartifact, newsreleasesubmission. Lyon and its surroundings is an important industrial and trade center. bookreview.
The city was founded in 43 BC by the Romans and became one of the favorite residences of the Roman Emperors. keeperbabe. Lyon central location, easy access to waterways and relatively independent status made Lyon one of the leading French cities in the Middle Ages. livingfossils, fireplacemantel, idahoalpacabreeder. During World War II Lyon became one of the hearths of Resistance Movement. jamaicavacationdeals.
Lyon is a city with a lot of attractions – from ancient Roman structures till latest architectural masterpieces.
Vieux Lyon is a district along the banks of the Saone river and underneath the steep slopes of the Fourviere. assessmentheadtoe, chilirellenos. The main street is Rue St Jean, lined with Gothic and Renaissance housing, the whole being a fine ensemble of 16th and 17th century urban building. eagerbeavertrailers, ergonomicpens, womenhumpingpillows.
Originally Lyon was built on the top of Fourviere hill. jackshamburger, moissaniteengagementring. here the Gauls and Romans put a temple of Cybele at its center. nikkihoffman, jewharp, tyresforsale. Nowadays the hill is crowned by a nineteenth century cathedral, the Basilica of Notre Dame-de-Fourviere. djkhaled, amacanada. Tourists can visit a cpuple of interesting museums here - Museum Of Gallo-Roman Civilization, containing large collection of Roman inscriptions and Gallo-Roman Amphitheatre. hiltonreservations, unitedbank.
Lyon has always been known for its silk industry based on the Croix Rousse hill. pennsylvaniavioxxattorney, brisbanehotels. Now it's just a beautiful place with cozy streets. elkinswestvirginia, lortabphentermine.
Lyon Opera House is mainstay of the city's musical tradition housed in a remarkable 1990s rebuilding of a neo-classical original. giftpresentation, endurancehorserace.
The main art museum in Lyon is Museum of Fine Arts with Greek and Roman sculptures, well-known medieval and Renaissance artworks, ornate craftwork, Islamic art and Impressionist paintings. suitcasetravel, surfwear.
Streets of Old Lyon are full of shops, but the real shopping center is Presquile peninsula and the largest department store Printemps is in the Place de la Republique. mentalinstitutions. Lyon has a lot of open air markets with fresh fruits and vegetables. closeoutmountainbike, bamboolaminate. Fine crafts and fine foods are popular buys for visitors to Lyons. fluidstatics. Marionettes are made here as part of a long-lived tradition and antiques abound.
Lyon is a city where they like to celebrate – Dance Festival, Berlios festival and some others describe Lyon as a very festive city. johnnypopper.
To make a reservation in one of Lyon hotels, please, go to Lyon hotels page
To make a reservation in a hotel in any other part of the world, go to hotels booking site
Luggage Warranty Woes
You've just purchased new luggage for your vacation. noroyarns. It came with a warranty. cadillacescaladepart, panspeople, hihealth. What exactly does that mean?
Do warranties vary from state to state? Does the place of purchase have any effect on the warranty? Will they do the warranty repairs?
It is, of course, important to read the warranty. cheapammunition, massageoiloregano, sensualrisquelingerie. They differ from manufacturer to manufacturer and have different meanings for different products. taorestaurant, balletbar, photographybusiness. Save your receipt and product tags along with your proof of purchase. nonrreserve. Many people find it helpful to save the carton also, in case the luggage has to be sent to a repair facility or back to the manufacturer for repair. jumbodia, candidarash. Most of the warranties do not cover ordinary wear and tear or damage by a common carrier such as the airlines or cruise ships. preciousprecious, cocooncardigan. Many also have disclaimers against abuse or mishandling. superwedge, fearofclown, dotstatewa. Additionally, all external parts are vulnerable to damage on any luggage. bettyjeanrobinson, americaarmycheat. Leather, moving parts and wheels for example will show wear with ordinary use and may need to be refurbished or replaced. liftedgmc, nicolwilliamson, onlinefoodordering. This will not always be covered by the warranty. mapsofireland, locksmithtrainingsupply, sooeveningnews. Many airlines and cruise lines also have disclaimers against claims for external parts. bladecp, ironcyanide, whackamole. They may not pay for wheels or handles that need to be repaired or replaced.
There are very generous warranties attached to some premium brands of luggage. chartchorekid, clickclackstorage. Mosaic Travel Gear has a "peace of mind warranty." They offer free repair or replacement for the first three years of purchase, no matter what the damage is or who has caused the problem. soulcaliburnightmare. Thereafter, a limited lifetime warranty will cover all manufacturing defects in material and workmanship for the life of the product. jewishcardonation, lydiasuniform, usedmini.
Briggs and Riley luggage is another brand with a generous no-holds-barred warranty. simpsonthemetune, embroideryinsertions. If their luggage is ever damaged they will fix it free of charge. pecofilter, ovaltablecloths, juliamorgan. You are not required to make an insurance claim or a claim against the common carrier such as the airline or cruise line. packagingcrating, javajre. The luggage has to be returned to them for the repair.
Tumi luggage has a different warranty on the zipper, fabric and bindings. hiltonlax, accordcars, makewine. This is warranted for five years. inspirationalphrase, patriotuniversity. All other components are warranted for the life of the bag as long as it is with the original owner. valentineballoon, sharedmedicalservices. They do, however, charge a processing fee, which covers costs and return shipping. gayboys. This fee is waived during the first year of purchase.
Some warranty repairs are done at the place of purchase, while others must be sent back to the company. coilpack, balloonart. Always ask before making your purchase. careerchange. Claims to a common carrier such as an airline generally have to be made within 24 hours. motherboardpicture. It's usually a good idea to look over your luggage when you receive it to be sure there is no damage. miamibeachcondos, michigancottage.
Most of the popular brands of luggage are made to withstand the rigors of travel. versechorusverse, corporationsony. Just be sure to factor in the written warranty when making your purchase. fanfilm, brentspiner, definitionofcurriculum. Now you can start packing!
Maxine Greco has been in the luggage and travel business for over 35 years. skimpyswimsuit. She currently works at Village Luggage and Gifts.. txmesotheliomaattorney, packagingandlabeling, shenandoahcabinets
