I have often written about the way tourists and other foreigners are sometimes treated in Malta, especially when they are overcharged.

I am now dismayed by the government’s decision that tourists are to pay higher bus fares than locals. Surely we cannot justify this. I shall go as far as to say that this is possibly illegal. Let us consider the implications.

Most of our tourist markets are experiencing serious financial problems and many of their citizens would be cutting down on holidays abroad. So we should be introducing incentives to attract tourists, not make overcharging them legal.

Already, British friends of mine tell me Malta is no longer a place where you get value for money.

I hope the government rethink s its decision and introduces cheaper bus fares to encourage tourists to visit.

Indeed, there should also be cheaper admission tickets for museums and other incentives. After all, we depend heavily on tourism.