Natural beauty is what attracts tourists

Having just read the comments by the CEO of the Malta Tourism Authority, Josef Formosa Gauci, who says that Malta has the tools to counter tourism's problems, it appears to me that he is trying to shift the blame for the present poor tourism figures on everyone but the MTA. We have an old saying in Britain, which I'm sure you also have in Malta, which says that a bad workman always blames his tools.

Personally I would rate Malta and especially Gozo for the courtesy of its people, the history, the laid-back way of life and the really relaxing atmosphere. These are things which do not require any investment because they are already in place. But there are other areas which need to be looked at, and quickly, if the downturn caused by the present economic situation is not to become a permanent fixture. What the MTA should be concentrating on is maintaining the natural beauty of the country. That means it should be campaigning against the construction of more apartments etc. until the present glut of empty properties is utilised.

It also needs to restore places like Dwejra on Gozo back to the way it was, and by that I mean get that ugly rusted concrete structure at the top of the hill removed.

Here is an area selected as a possibility for the new seven world wonders, which doesn't stand a snowball's hope in hell due to the state of the surrounding area. What message will that failure send out?

Obviously it goes without saying that the damage caused to the quay at Ħondoq needs to be repaired as soon as possible.

I understand that they expect this work to be completed before the summer, but why has it taken so long? The dithering over this matter is beginning to look like a ploy by someone at government level to leave the place in a run-down state so that they can sell the possibility of building a marina there against the wishes of the people.

Then we have the usual old chestnut raised on a regular basis that all Gozo needs is a direct air link with Malta and all its problems will be solved. What Gozo needs is a good subsidised helicopter service for those few people who require it and are willing to pay for it. What it certainly doesn't need is further destruction of precious land for an airstrip.

It's time Mr Gauci and the rest of the MTA got their heads out of the sand or wherever else they have them stuck and start doing the job they are paid for.