This year when the recession started to hit the travel industry, Malta produced a sizzling set of figures from her cruise ship arrivals for 2008.

Another record, and for the first time breaking through the 500,000 cruise ship passenger arivals figure.

And the tourist numbers are so encouraging that the Malta authorities are to launch a new marketing campaign to encourage even further the cruise industry to use the Mediterranean island.

At the moment Malta is one of the top Mediterranean cruise stopovers, with most passengers spending a day or half day in Malta, and because of the lack of time only seeing the capital Valletta or the historical city of Mdina on an organised tour, and missing ninety per cent of what Malta has to offer visitors.

But now Malta wants to go a step further, and instead of being just another - albeit an historic and important - stopover, she wants to be the most likely island in the Mediterranean where cruisegoers would start their trip.

And what would be the benefits?

For a start cruise passengers would be flying to Malta instead of another start point, quite possibly using a Malta airline, and often staying in one of the Malta hotels for the night before boarding ship.

Malta estimates that the cruise ship industry brings some 40 million Euros into the Malta economy each year, and for an island with a population of 300,000 it’s an important contribution to the Malta economy. The number of jobs in the Malta docks is significant, and the success of attracting cruise line passengers is a very welcome success for the dockers given the current economic uncertainty.

Overall the Malta tourist industry could be taking quite a hit in 2009 with mainland Europe and the United Kingdom being in recession, and less people taking holidays abroad, and despite low cost flights to Malta visitor numbers will probably be down in 2009 - but with Malta hoping to boost visitor numbers via the cruise ships the island could do better than other island holiday destinations.

If cruise passengers do opt to spend a little time on Malta, they will likely find it an enriching experience. Malta is also very rich in history, with some artefacts pre-dating Egypt’s pyramids. History buffs will enjoy the variety of treasures and artifacts on display in Malta’s museums. Many of Malta’s historic churches still stand and are used for worship today.

For the tourist wanting a more modern look at the island, they will find Portomaso well worth a visit - Portomaso is a 31 acre waterfront development with upmarket housing, clubs and exciting activities. The primary goal of the developers of Portomaso was to become one of the most prestigious locations in Malta.

There’s a lot to see and do in Malta, and hopefully cruise passengers will have a little extra time for Malta and her history.

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Holiday information for Malta is online at yourmalta.com

Also available for the popular island of Cyprus are villa holidays in Cyprus and real estate and Malta property

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

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Suppliers of gemstones recognise that their products can be used in any form of jewellery, from rings to broaches, necklaces to earrings. The possibilities are only limited by the creator’s imagination. There are so many shapes and sizes to choose from, it may be a little daunting at first glance, but if you plan your piece of jewellery carefully, there is bound to be a gemstone to fit.

The first thing to do is to decide exactly what kind of piece you want to create. Once you have decided on that, you can then narrow your field of choice down regarding shape and size. If you are making a broach with an inlay gemstone setting, a cabochon of any precious or semi-precious gemstone can easily be fitted into a corresponding blank mounting. A popular combination is silver and turquoise, giving a beautiful finish for a budget price.

Most silver and gold findings can be bought from jewellery suppliers. Good suppliers will also carry a range of gemstones that are designed to fit their selection of mountings. To use gemstones in your jewellery making, you need only a few simple tools and a lot of imagination. If you’re really serious about gemstones, you can purchase the uncut stones and build up your workshop to include tumblers, polishers, diamond-tipped drills and other jeweller’s tools to create your own, unique results. If you are intending to produce a quantity of gemstone jewellery, the initial outlay of equipment will soon pay dividends, as the uncut gemstones are far cheaper than the cut ones.

Semi-precious gemstones can also be bought as beads, combined with delicate silver spacers and created into beautiful, elegant jewellery. A particular favourite is the deep blue azure of Lapis Lazuli with its golden flecks and shimmering iridescence.

Creating stylish and unique jewellery is far easier than you think. By incorporating gemstones into your designs, you can even make birthstone-specific jewellery for a particularly individual gift. Each zodiac sign has corresponding gemstones, most of which are relatively common and fairly cheap. Even the more expensive stones, such as emeralds and sapphires, can be cheaper than you expected, especially if you choose a stone that is perhaps of a lower quality, but has its own raw beauty.

The important thing to remember when venturing into the world of gemstones for the first time is to shop around. There are plenty of suppliers in the market, and there are bargains to be had, particularly if you are willing to do a little work on the stone yourself. Don’t be afraid to experiment – if you’re not happy with the results, you can always dismantle the piece and incorporate the gem into a different setting or even a completely different design.

Gemstones never go out of fashion, so take a look around jewellery fairs to pick up inspiration and ideas for your own work, and in no time you’ll be adding your own, unique gemstone designs into your jewellery making.

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Adam Hunter – E-commerce Marketing Manager of cooksongold.com. Cookson Precious Metals offer a choice of jewellery making supplies from over 10,000 products including gemstones, gold and silver wire, jewellery findings, tools, precious metal clay and gold and silver sheet - gold, silver, platinum and palladium plus technical information for jewellers, jobbers, designer, craftsmen, artisans and students.

For interviews, quotes, images or comments contact:
Adam Hunter
E-commerce Marketing Manager
Tel(DDI): +44 (0) 121 212 6491
E-mail: http://www.articletrader.com

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Back pains can often be created or intensify by low quality or inappropriate mattresses. Mattresses that do not support your body properly result in poor sleeping posture and as it is widely known poor sleeping posture can cause back pains.
People who suffer from arthritis or have back injuries are often advised by doctors to change their mattress for a new one that is appropriate in helping them reduce the pain.

The truth is that the best mattress is the one that both supports your back and feels comfortable. Choosing the best mattress for you is not an easy process. Each individual must test available mattresses before buying one. If a mattress is stiff and supports your back perfectly it may reduce back pain however, if it is not comfortable enough it may lead to sleep disorders.
Mattresses vary in quality and may differ enormously in the number of springs and the thickness of padding. The overall thickness of a mattress in not a decisive factor, thick mattresses are not always better. An individual should always try to achieve a golden balance between support and comfort. Some mattresses may also feel comfortable at the beginning but, may prove inappropriate in the long run if they lack proper support.
It is also advised to choose a mattress that has good quality and a fair price as cheap mattresses can cause more harm than losing a few dollars. You should also know when it is time to buy a new mattress. When an old mattress sags in the middle it should be changed as soon as possible. Placing wooden boards or blankets under the mattress to prevent it from sagging is only a temporary solution which can help you sleep for a few days until your new mattress arrives. Mattresses do not last forever and they should not be changed only when they become worn. Mattresses must be repositioned every few months to preserve their quality and to ensure that they are worn evenly. Mattresses should not be placed on a bed that they were not made for since mattresses that were designed to be positioned on hard surfaces may be not function properly on beds with springs and they may decrease the life of the mattress, particularly in the case of a memory foam mattress…

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For that pain free, comfortable, relaxing night’s sleep - look no further than a memory foam mattress, and for that all important great price, check out the discounted rates on offer at Memory-foam-mattresses-2-you.co.uk today!

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

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