The tourism season has started and it can take 40 minutes for luggage to get from the aircraft to a carousel at the airport.

Air Malta does not answer the phone listed for “flight information” and the airport switchboard does not have a number for the helicopter service (“they haven't given us one yet – only their website”). It is impossible to find helicopter flight information anywhere on the internet.

Nobody mans the airport taxi kiosk, so why is it still there?

The cross-country road from the airport to St Paul’s Bay, Mellieha and Cirkewwa has been blitzed, almost in its entirety, and most of the centre of the island appears to have been devastated. It has not occurred to anybody that a few diversion signs might be helpful for tourists.

If it is true that first impressions count, the MTA ought to be aware that, currently, they do not count for very much.

Revel Barker

Ghajnsielem, Gozo