Golf, rambling and children's economic future (2)

I read with interest Lino Bugeja's letter (October 14). I am a very frequent visitor to Malta and come from the home of golf in Scotland.

Prior to reading Mr Bugeja's letter I had read of the proposal for the new golf course at ix-Xaghra l-Hamra. I personally find the proposal abhorrent and bizarre. Abhorrent because Malta is the most densely populated country in Europe and yet the government wants to reduce the open countryside even further. Bizarre because instead of wanting to concentrate on the incredible natural beauty of the Maltese countryside, they want to create something artificial in its place.

When people talk of Malta it is generally and understandably the sea they talk about. However, Malta is also a haven for ramblers. I enjoy walking in Scotland very much but walking is not better or worse in Malta, it is just totally different. For a government to even consider destroying some of the remaining countryside is contemptible.

There are no doubts that there is an economic issue in that the perception is that it will bring more tourism; concentrating on something foreign rather than focusing on highlighting something local and natural. The rainforests of South America are being destroyed for economic reasons but there is abject poverty there and without UN assistance what can they do? This is not the case in Malta.

I wish the Malta Ramblers Association luck in its campaign for common sense and treasuring Malta the way the government should.