It seems that Malta is becoming popular again with British tourists.

According to YourMalta.com, a rising number of low-cost flights to the Mediterranean island have boosted holidaymaker numbers.

Consequently, tourism levels have risen as enquiries from British journalists asking about Malta has been said to have risen “significantly” during the first three months of this year.

A spokesperson for the website said: “Malta seems to have come back on travel writers’ radar.

“We’ve been pleasantly surprised at the number of national newspapers asking us for quotes. The same has happened with journalist enquiries for property in Malta, showing perhaps that increased media interest for holidays in Malta is no coincidence.”

It was also suggested that soap opera Coronation Street’s filming in the island for a special series of episodes that “a major boost for the winter season and for summer 2008” could take place.

“A half-hour episode on Malta will reach more people over a longer period of time than a tourist authority could hope to with a series of 20 or 30-second advertisements, it would be worth millions in equivalent advertising,” YourMalta.com said.

The talks were successful, and the storyline, featuring Eileen Grimshaw (Sue Cleaver), Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) and Robin Askwith, star of the 1970s Confessions Of… movies, is certain to draw increased tourism to the island.

But an English woman, writing in her blog, portrayed things quite differently: “We saw some filming for a TV show or perhaps a film with that woman that plays Eileen Grimshaw – real name Sue Cleaver – from Coronation Street at one of the beaches – Ramla bay on Gozo.

“She was dead stuck up and full of herself. She came up and said hello to me at one point. I didn’t know who she was, but she thought everyone knew her. I don’t watch those soap operas – I feel that they cater to boring mindless housewives with nothing better to do.

“I turned to my husband and said that she looked like one of those old biddies who are always trying to flog insurance on the TV ads.

“I did feel for her though, they had her in lots of clothing on a very hot day – about 40 degrees, and she couldn’t even cool off in the water.

“They had some nice plastic fantastic models there who were full of silicone. The staff were also trying to tell the Maltese people where they could and couldn’t go on the beach and in the water – the people laughed at them and carried on their way. How pompous were they?”