Clean-up around Girgenti caves

I refer to the letter Girgenti Cave Complex (June 15) by Keith Buhagiar, and letters by other correspondents.

As Mr Buhagiar aptly noted, extensive cleaning and the restoration of rubble walls has taken place mostly above and around the caves. This was coordinated by the Projects Unit of the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA). The works were carried out by trained personnel from the Parks Division of the Ministry of Rural Affairs and the Environment and in consultation with the Superintendency of the Cultural Heritage.

The work was done precisely because the MTA is aware of the archaeological importance of the site and the valuable intangible heritage connected to it. Furthermore, due to its close proximity with a cluster of other significant archaeological remains, mainly, the ancient quarries, tombs and prehistoric cart ruts, the cave area is unique to the islands.

The MTA acknowledges also the amount of tourists that frequent the site and has enhanced their experience by installing an Infoline plaque that offers immediate historical information on site, in different languages, through their own mobile phones.

A countryside walk published on a reader-friendly booklet with a guide map was also prepared by the Product Planning Directorate of the MTA to explain better the route and its merit.

In the meantime, the MTA would like to thank the Parks Division for their collaboration in the completion of this first phase of the project.