So, the Santa Maria weekend was - to plagiarise something said in quite a different context - not as bad as expected by the Gozitan business community but much less than they wished for.

It seems that reports of the imminent death of the goose that lays the golden eggs were somewhat exaggerated. Reports during the week confirmed that there was a decrease in number of those who every year flock across the channel to spend the weekend 'away from it all'.

I was not one of them: I prefer to go to Gozo when it is really away from it all rather than when the whole of Malta seems to have moved, albeit temporarily, to Gozo.

I do not know how many of the people who crossed over to Gozo for the weekend were influenced by the obvious media spin in the days leading to the traditional weekend. This year we even received a flyer in our post-box telling us of the attractions and the interesting events to be held in Gozo.

All in all a good effort by the Gozo Ministry and the Gozo Tourism Association - a big change from the time when Gozitans used to grumble about the influx of young Maltese spoiling the atmosphere of their peaceful island.

Yet there were many who were not impressed. I have never met so many people who were determined not to spend another euro in Gozo and the online comments on the The Times' website confirmed that our national grumbling malaise had also infected our attitude to spending a few days in Gozo.

To be sure, people grumble about being 'ripped off' by ridiculously high prices. Some even say that they can get better value for money if they opt for a holiday in Sicily or in other Mediterranean resorts such as Corfu and Tunisia.

Someone I know even insisted that in Gozo all prices are three-tiered: with prices for Gozitans being on the lower tier, those for Maltese being on the middle tier and those for foreign tourists being on the highest tier.

There must be some truth in these rumours, even though they could be unfair for many an honest Gozitan trader.

Another common complaint is the alleged discrimination that Gozitan wardens adopt in issuing tickets for traffic offences - cars owned by Maltese visitors seem to have a special attraction to these wardens' attention.

The Gozo Tourism Association would do well if it were to set up a complaints office so that they would be in a position to investigate and deal with grievances of this nature. All over the world, marketing efforts do not just live off media spins and promotional leaflets and include after sales service and customer satisfaction. Gozo should not be any different.

Instead of considering the need for such customer care services, a spokesman of the Gozo Tourism Association was reported to have "lamented the fact that this year has seen an exceptional rise in the number of late bookings with short bookings becoming more and more popular".

He added that "this has put a strain on a number of hotels and other accommodation facilities since it reduces the necessary amount of time required for preparation and planning purposes!"

This is nothing but an incredible attitude that reveals that for this spokesman the convenience of the operators takes priority over that of the customer. It also ignores the fact that late bookings are a universal trend in tourism in the current economic situation and 'lamenting' it rather than changing tack to deal with it is incredibly naïve.

It also reveals a 'grumbling mentality' - prevalent all over Malta and Gozo - that seems to expect everything to be done in the way suiting the grumbler rather than taking problems in one's stride.

On top of the shortsighted way of doing business by ripping off customers, this makes us our own worst enemies.

Valletta conundrum

I was quite perturbed when I read the recent report that Valletta stood to lose its world heritage status because of new buildings outside Valletta.

I was even more perturbed after reading a letter written by the architect responsible for the MIDI Tignè development published in The Times last Monday.

Not only was the original report exaggerated and disingenuous - complete with a misleading photograph - but it seems that the instigation for the very idea that Valletta could lose its important status originated from a Maltese compatriot.

I have always thought that the Maltese version of the English idiom "cutting off the nose to spite the face" as too vulgar and unprintable. Its earthy truth seems to reflect exactly a very common Maltese attitude, tempting me to suggest it as our national motto. Certainly more apt than the now discarded 'Virtute et Costantia'...

Whether it is a matter of sour grapes or the pursuit of some resentment - justified or not - is irrelevant. It is simply a disgrace. It's not just a few of us who are our own worst enemies. Alas, it is all of us.

micfal@maltanet.net