Frank Salt Real Estate Ltd has just returned from three property exhibitions which were held in Belgium between the 22 and 24 September and in the United Kingdom on 29 September and 1 October and 7 and 8 October.

Despite the fact that most of the clients who visited the stand in Belgium, have never been to Malta, considerable interest was shown in purchasing property as an investment or retirement home. “It is a pity that there is insufficient awareness in Belgium and other EU countries of Malta’s attractiveness to retirees, particularly due to its favourable rate of tax,” said managing director Joseph Lupi. “Our country will benefit tremendously if these people come over and settle in our islands,” he said. Particular interest was shown in properties on Gozo by Belgian nationals.

Grahame Salt, who managed the two exhibitions in the UK, together with one of the company’s UK associates, reported a good attendance at both fairs.

“While in the UK, we reported that unlike other competing countries, there was a lack of awareness of Malta and Gozo. Some visitors actually came across Malta by accident,” he said.

“The Maltese Islands have to be marketed constantly as a holi-day and retirement destination by all operators in the market, and these include the government, as well as the developers who spend millions in these developments and hardly anything in marketing the development. There is a limit as to how much we can do as agents,” Mr Salt added.

Generally, the company registered enquiries for all types of property throughout Malta and Gozo, and a number of inspection visits were also arranged during the course of the exhibitions.

Other countries participating in the fair included Spain, Turkey, Portugal, France and Cyprus.