Over the years, Malta has stumbled and bumbled along, creating a tourism market without really knowing what ideas and attractions we want to promote as a prime attraction. Problems in neighbouring competing countries have helped us, as well as the generalisation of our touristic mix.

Are we to concentrate on general tourism or go upmarket?

We have sun. So do so many other places.

We have beaches. There are much better ones elsewhere.

We speak English. The language is spoke in other countries too and some of our competitors make learning and speaking English a priority. Do we?

We are a safe country. Yes, that is true. We have Christian and family principles. A bonus nowadays, or is it?

We have history. Yes, we have history. Others have history but do they have such a diverse history and a history that is concentrated in such a small area? The answer is no.

We can display and promote our assets in a historical way

Can we therefore promote all our assets that contribute to attract tourists and give them a historical connection?

We certainly don’t want to ram history down people’s throats but we can display and promote our assets in a historical way.

What history do we have?

Let’s start with the Neolithic temples. The Roman settlements. The Knights of Malta and their beautiful buildings and the heritage they left us. Then there is the British occupation and WWII.

Recent history must include the epic films made in Malta. Why can’t pieces of the major sets be exhibited in a special area for tourists to visit, as we have done with Popeye’s Village?

So we are full of history. Now how do we use it to our advantage? And how do we promote our islands using history as a main embracing concept?

We have a ferry service between Sliema and Valletta. Why do we not build ferries that look like the original ones, those having a funnel? And why can’t these ferries leave from reproduced old-fashioned jetties that looked so attractive? Why can’t a way be found to take people from the ferry terminal in Valletta to the centre without having to walk up the steep hills? This trip could be made very popular and very historically attractive, without any inconvenience.

Water taxis should take people to and from the main areas of the Grand Harbour. They should not be the modern type but be the very comfortable smaller luzzu-type boats, colourful and very Maltese.

The dgħajsa should be more prominently promoted and youngsters encouraged to earn their living this way, even if during their holidays, taking tourists around the harbour. Look how successful the gondolas in Venice are. Think Venice, think history and think gondolas.

Think Malta. Think what?

Great work is being done with our forts and ancient buildings. Build on this and promote it more.

We have a unique aviation museumin Ta’ Qali, an old World War II aerodrome. History!

We have a crafts village that is situated next to the Aviation Museum. This should be redesigned and made attractive to the many visitors there.

How? The crafts village can be redesigned as an old RAF airfield. Build reproduction Nissan huts with 20th century interiors to serve as outlets. Larger Nissan huts could be the cafes, play areas for children, attractive and well-maintained gardens, etc. People in period uniforms can assist visitors.

Between the crafts village and the Aviation Museum lies an old concrete factory that would make an ideal old car museum. Malta is full of old beautifully-renovated vehicles that could be displayed there.

We have our karrozzin and our old buses. Help them to complement the historical atmosphere we are after. Place an old bus on the roundabout next to the airport so that people can see it at the very start of their visit to the island. Then make sure it is maintained properly.

We have the Limestone Heritage, the Maritime Museum, the Malta Experience, St John’s Co-Cathedral plus so many other beautiful churches. Promote these and so much more history as the cradle of our tourism package.

At long last, we now have the Barrakka lift. Use it to its full extent.

We have the tourist hop-on-hop-off buses. Well done. We should incentivise tourists to make use of these buses to see the real Malta and Gozo at theirbest. How?

Choose the 30 or so best places in Malta and Gozo. I would call them tourist priority areas. Select a small area in each locality, say, Spinola Bay or Għar Lapsi. Make that small area as attractive as possible. We have done this with roundabouts, so we know it can be done.

Roads and pavements in such areas will be well built and maintained. Benches and flowers everywhere. Buildings will be painted and maintained beautifully. Rubbish nowhere. Beautiful lighting. Tourist wardens in attendance.

These tourist priority areas should be looked after and maintained by the Malta Tourism Authority. They need not be large, but perfect. Hop-on-hop-off buses will go from one tourist priority area to another. Imagine what an impression we can leave on visitors and how they will be willing to recommend this island to their friends back home.

These tourist priority areas would include the best parts of some of our beautiful old villages, which are hardly ever seen by visitors.

I could go on and on, but before I close I would like to mention beaches.

We were told we could never makeSt George’s Bay a proper tourist beach. But it was done. Unfortunately, the added sand does erode and needs replenishing. If it needs doing, then let us do it before the beach vanishes.

Many of our beaches were ruined by building a coast road right along the beach. Examples are Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq, Magħtab, Xemxija, Mellieħa and St George’s. These beaches can be made much larger by redirecting the roads and reclaiming the original beaches. It can be done and Malta will benefit tremendously.

What I speak about is a tourism plan based on our single most-prized asset: our history. Let’s show it off but let’s show it off wisely and sensibly as a basis of our tourism product.