A tourist's observations

My family and I have been coming to Malta for a number of years now, staying in an apartment in Paceville. I have read a number of articles in The Times about how tourism is in decline (the plane from Manchester was only half full).

Paceville was like a ghost town this year prior to the World Cup - apparently the big British tour operators have pulled out of St George's Park and the La Vallette and it would appear they have been replaced by a limited number of students.

As a tourist, here are some observations. Firstly the island is losing its character. The old buses are being replaced by new faceless ones, bars are being built that only cater for the young and the island is becoming very expensive.

Then there's the noise, which is constant, drilling from 6.30 a.m. (do these buildings ever get completed?), horns blasting away in tourist areas from 7 a.m. The dreaded ice cream man who terrorises the beach at St George's blows his horn for up to 20 minutes at a time shouting "ice cream"! It does not bode well for a relaxing holiday.

Students and luxury hotels don't go hand in glove either. Students may be a short-term answer but do they have the spending power of the tourist?

Some well-established restaurants in Paceville have been suffering because of the new smoking laws. Why else is it that restaurants which are fortunate to have outside facilities are packed? Smokers vote with their feet and to lose these restaurants would be criminal.

The pavements have had millions spent on them; it would be a sin to waste money on repairing them so soon, as I have observed this year.

Here's some food for thought: When tourists are woken up early or are subjected to constant, unnecessary noise, they don't return.

An island like Malta relies heavily on tourism, so no tourists mean higher taxes for those who live here. So think next time you reach for the horn or drop that litter - it could be leaving an empty sound in your wallet.

Malta is a beautiful island, with friendly people and an easygoing outlook on life. This is what makes tourists want to return. Don't spoil it by making it another faceless, expensive European country catering only for the young.