Seeing both sides of the tourism picture

Having heard Kevin Decaesare's speech, and Mario de Marco's reply regarding tourism prospects for next year, I tend to agree with the former that the Malta Tourism Authority should show more foresight and act faster to try and restrain dropping reservations.

However, I must say that Dr de Marco appears to be less of a showman and more active and factual when it comes to facing his critics - thankfully the cosmetics of the past seem to have been swept away!

The hoteliers are right to complain that the incoming tourist gets the impression of an overcrowded country that seems to get filthier, and instead of pleasant rolling plains, hills and countryside the first sight they get is of tower cranes and construction sites all over the place. Moving inland, the confusion increases with heavy trucks carrying all sorts of construction related material all over the place with no regard to times and nuisance caused to tourist and citizen.

All this has been the subject matter of umpteen speeches, letters and conferences but very little is noted in the way of progress - this is an area where the authorities need to brush up their act and do so really fast.

However, on the other side of the coin, the hoteliers and restaurateurs can do so much more to help themselves.

For example, why shouldn't a hotel budget some funds to embellish the environment immediately outside their establishment? Why shouldn't they clean the immediate environs on a regular basis? Take a look at Buġibba and, on a lesser scale, Marsascala.

All sorts of rubbish is dumped on the pavement opposite their establishments and left there for the night, providing a happy hunting ground for stray animals and certain human scavengers.

Also, go out for a meal to any hotel or restaurant - why should prices be hiked up periodically? One can point out the exorbitant prices being levied on wines and on so-called specials which do not appear on the menu and then are charged on a free-for-all basis.

There is so much more to say, but both sides of the picture should look at their respective side of the story.