My partner and I recently spent a mostly wonderful week on Malta, staying at a Maltese-owned hotel in Qawra. We enjoyed the sights and hospitality of the island and found the Maltese people to be friendly and helpful.

Which is why the activity of the imported English timeshare touts present such an unpleasant contrast; we were twice confronted (and affronted) by (northern) English timeshare touts in Qawra Bay whose language, when their requests to attend a "five minute" presentation to be rewarded with goodies were rejected, was deplorable.

My main complaint, however, is about the questionable behaviour and activity of the representatives of the Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Golden Bay. My partner and I were waiting for a bus back to Buġibba when we were approached by a representative from the timeshare group that operates in, and is part of, the Radisson Hotel group. He claimed that a short presentation would only take half an hour. Happy to take advantage of the air-conditioning as the day was particularly hot and our bus was not due for another half an hour (or so we were informed - another lie?), we agreed.

We were asked to complete a short form, which stated that the presentation would take one hour - this was also a lie but I now wanted to see how far this insulting practice goes. We were then greeted by a salesman ... suffice to say that at the point that he finally gave up the ghost (just short of two hours), he told us that normally we would now be about five hours into the presentation!

He called over his "manager", who looked like someone you should not argue with and whose demeanour was bordering on the threatening; had I been less well prepared for this kind of assault, I can see how people get bullied into signing up for these things.

Now, I am aware that one of the prices you have to pay for joining the European Union is to allow accredited organisations such as these on to the island. However, the law cuts both ways. I also understand that there is a trade-off between trying to grow the tourist industry on the island by allowing foreign hotel groups to build large hotels and use their own methods to get visitors to stay in these places.

It strikes me, however, that if the authorities continue to permit these scoundrels to conduct themselves in the manner described above in pursuit of the tourist dollar, Malta will only succeed in getting the same reputation as places like the Costa de Sol. This is an island that is rich in history and culture, a people that are a joy to meet and boneshaker buses that are reason enough to visit (though I understand Malta may be bowing down to Brussels and getting rid of those soon - a real shame!).

Malta has an incredible amount to offer but timeshare should not form any part of it.