He was speaking during an activity to launch an educational colouring and games book Jien u t-Turist, which is aimed at making Maltese children appreciate what our country has to offer and what both Maltese and tourists can enjoy.

The book also encourages children to appreciate and respect tourists who visit Malta. Dr Zammit Dimech said that although Malta had a good reputation for hospitality, “we are not all that hospitable because otherwise there would not be rumours and stories of tourists being ripped off. This has to change,” he said.

Children need to be taught, from a young age to respect our country by keeping it clean and getting involved in nature and beach clean-ups, said Dr Zammit Dimech. “If we teach children to look after everything in Malta and Gozo, we will have a better generation for the future than we have now,” he pointed out.

He appealed for children to become the environmental and heritage wardens of the future and to look after and protect all that is Maltese – both related to heritage and the country as a whole.

The book was launched by the Malta Tourism Authority in collaboration with Playmobil.