Power cuts

It is really absurd that in the year 2003, and after all the hype that Delimara power station would solve the electricity power supply problem, just a few years later touristic Bugibba is now suffering from power cuts on a regular basis, turning the clock back to the 1970s. One is ashamed to have to explain to visitors/clients that in the peak of the tourist season and in addition to them being woken up at 7 a.m. with the noise of the excavation machines they also have to endure walking around the same sights at night in darkness.

Obviously, new developments will go on, permits for new properties will continue to be issued, the demand for essential services will continue to rise and all this when we cannot even sustain the present basic requirements such as electricity, expensive, as it is, to supply. The constant excuse given on the media that the high demand exceeds supply is unacceptable in this day and age. We have no choice but tourists have alternative destinations.

Anyone who thinks these tourists will return home and forget about their experiences and also expect them one day to return is only kidding oneself. The minister of tourism should dedicate a few of his field officers, to survey these same tourists at the time of these power cuts. He would be left in no doubt as to why they would never return to Malta. All the advertising in the world will not make up for the word of mouth to invite tourists to return.

I am also sure that in time we will be given a multitude of reasons as to why the number of tourists is dwindling and we will be offered every excuse possible, but these true and basic facts will be conveniently forgotten.

The incidents of 9/11 have been blamed for the drastic reduction of tourists to Malta, as happened to some other destinations.

But, on the other hand, one could also argue that Malta is renowned as a safe destination, therefore one would have expected that we would have benefited from these incidents.

Would the authorities please wake up to reality?