Leisure village

There is a leisure village in the north of the island. It used to be a Forces rest camp. It is now Air Malta property. It is called Hal Ferh, leased to Arrigo Tourism Limited. It consists of a number of two-storey blocks of two-bedded flats. It is in fact a hotel village.

As such, it has a reception hall. Other amenities are a bar, two restaurants, one of which is open air, and a swimming pool. Games facilities include tennis courts, a mini golf course, an open air bowling alley and an archery field.

This is a hotel village. The atmosphere is one of relaxation and pleasure. It is patronised by French and Italian tourists, as well as Maltese families, who seek a rest from the rough and tumble of life.

Guests are treated to full board. Food is home made. It is varied and plentiful. The quantity depends on one's appetite, as it is a buffet, served at all three meals. The only snag is that one may over indulge. It is certainly not recommended for people on a slimming diet.

Hal Ferh is accessible only to car owners, as it is not serviced by public transport. Parking is no problem as there is plenty of space available.

There is a remarkable difference from the rest of our villages. There is no litter and, thankfully, no visible refuse. The place is kept spick and span. Mention of dirt and refuse makes one blush for shame for this national failing to keep Malta clean.

Children are kept busy dancing to disco music played by animators, playing games or swimming in the pool.

Actors and dancers put on cabaret shows in the evening at the open air amphitheatre or at the indoor theatre, if the weather is unkind. Members of the audience play a big part in the burlesque sketches. This is all the better because there is nothing better to relax than to enjoy oneself and entertain friends and family.

Most of the sketches are extremely funny. The audience and participants are kept in a jolly mood which is, after all, the aim of the cabaret show's cast. Some of the jokes in the sketches are somewhat risqué, but it is meant to provoke sniggers and loud laughter. That is exactly the result. After all, one attends to be entertained and kept in a humorous atmosphere.

There is no doubt that people who patronise Hal Ferh go there to relax and are quite determined to enjoy themselves. So much so that they bring their own games, like playing cards to play rummy. It is often the case of seeing three or more rummy parties at different tables around the bar. They play, of course, for small stakes, After all they are not gamblers, but to play in self amusement.

Hal Ferh is such a success that it may be the case of having another village of the same type in the south of Malta. And, why not, in Gozo, too? This may be another niche for tourism that has not yet been fully addressed.

Similar leisure villages are found all over Sicily and Italy. Surely this is proof that it is a successful niche for tourism. So much so that in other countries of the Mediterranean one finds quite a quantity of leisure villages, both by the sea as well as in hilly or mountainous country.

The advantages of taking a holiday in a leisure village rather than in a hotel are pretty obvious. There is more space to roam about than in a hotel room, however varied the hotel's amenities may be. On the other hand, of course, it is all a question of taste. As the Latin proverb goes de gustibus disputandum non est.