Mistake to raise museum fees

It is such a great shame that the Minister of Education and Heritage Malta have decided to raise museum entrance fees. If one looks with a very fine toothcomb there may be some negligible reductions. I shall be interested in what the Minister of Tourism has to say about it.

At a time of when foreign visitors are struggling with holiday costs, Malta slaps them in the face with this increase.

The timing could not be worse. I have publicly tried to encourage the powers that be to come up with some incentive that would give value for money to tourists on whom most of our economy depends, suggesting reduced entry to the same museums.

This latest fiasco will send negative messages to would-be holidaymakers to our islands.

Why do we have to charge in the first place? Surely, for the benefit of both Maltese and foreign visitors - as we are the proud custodians of a large chunk of the world's history - free entry would encourage further awareness of our treasures.

Last week it was World Museum Day and most museums around the world had free entry.

Malta unfortunately showed itself up as the Scrooge, by still charging during the special evening that was held to celebrate the event. Suffice to say attendance was somewhat poor.