Hotel standards

I have visited Malta several times and never fail to be impressed by the poor standard of many of the hotels. I was so stunned by the lack of quality in one 'four-star' establishment that I looked up the classification law. This is very clear and comprehensive.

Unfortunately, nobody is policing the rules.

It appears that the Government has abdicated its responsibility to the Malta Tourism Authority - an organisation which represents the very establishments which are so dismally failing to meet the legal minimum standards.

Of the 100 or so criteria stated in the law, the hotel I refer to fails to achieve the minimum standard on over 50 of them. Among the failings are missing fire extinguishers, locked fire exits, brown water and unsanitary kitchens. It does not appear that the bedrooms have been refurbished since the hotel was opened in the 1970s.

Many months after a complaint was made, nothing appears to have improved.

If Malta is to encourage repeat visitors, who are not content with cheap and nasty services, then it must have systems which encourage hotels to at least redecorate on a regular basis.

The law seems to be in place - but it needs to be followed.