Speaking at the company’s annual dinner, Corinthia chairman Alfred Pisani (The Sunday Times of Malta, December 14) said that politicians and business leaders should forget mass tourism and opt instead for the quality sector.

While one can appreciate such a sentiment, it is but a pipe dream. Why?

Because ‘quality’ tourists would want a ‘quality environment’, and Malta does not offer this. Sure, we have quality hotels that offer quality service, but what else can we offer them?

Car hire is relatively cheap compared to other countries, but driving has become a bone shakers on our pitted roads. The buses are a disaster, as is the service they provide, and as for most of the drivers, they put Malta to shame (one hopes this will change with the new operator).

A number of bus drivers, just like many motorists, break the law by talking on their mobile phone or even texting while driving. Where are the police when you need them? Drivers do as they please, park where they want with impunity.

Quality tourists want a clean, happy environment. We offer them scenic walks they cannot undertake because of obnoxious hunters. We offer enthralling views of mattresses and fridges dumped by the wayside.

Yes, it would be nice to have quality tourists spending quality money. But first we have to provide them with quality amenities. The government would have to spend money on repairing the roads (and makE sure the contractor does a good job). People working in the service industry would have to be taught how to smile, offer a polite greeting and say those magic words missing in most Maltese vocabulary: “Thank you”.

First, let us have people like Pisani, successful business leaders, lobby the government to make Malta a quality holiday destination and maintain the work that needs to be done. Let’s get the police out and about to create a safe haven for visitors. Then we can reduce (but not exclude) the beer-and-bucket brigade and entice the money bags to our shores.