In response to Frank Salt’s article ‘A historic place’, may I, as a regular visitor for many years, make a few comments?

No doubt, each visitor has a particular reason for holidaying in Malta and some may be considered unusual. My wife and I stay at a resort where there is easy access to the sea and also to a sea water pool.

Everything else may be considered a bonus.

Yes, the Maltese are pro-English and have our values. A safe country, yes, but I do wish you would deal with the pickpockets; not Maltese I hasten to add. Police intelligence must know who the gangs are, however, from the visitor’s point of view the thieving has become routine.

The victims report to the police station, get an incident report typed up and send it to the insurance company. It is very damaging for the tourist industry and extremely upsetting for the victims.

Of history there is in abundance and I think it is well promoted. The bus service is a winner, covers all parts of the island and the fares are reasonable. The little electric taxis are splendid and the operators really know Valletta. The open-topped hop-on bus routes could be extended but, please, do take care that visitors who are not familiar with the system and having ‘hopped off’ are not left stranded.

The lack of promotion of Maltese wine is indeed a puzzle. Why offer imported wines and beer when you grow and brew your own?

Lastly, dare I mention ‘hunting’? We know potential visitors who will not come to Malta because of the wanton slaughter of birds. Hunters may say that in the UK pheasant and grouse shooting is big business but all of the birds do end up on the table.

We did not discover the purpose of the three-legged horse statue that is situated at the gateway of the capital city. Perhaps a hunting mishap.