It was good to read quick response from Dr Samut-Tagliaferro (TMID 11 February) to my letter (TMID 2 February) suggesting rapid refurbishment and iconic figures for the City Gate and Royal Opera House site. Sadly, his nice idea of demolition and rebuilding the City Gate in classical style will never happen. It would be hugely disruptive, very expensive and is not an instant remedy. This still leaves my remedy. Additionally, resurfacing the Gate area in red asphalt, painting the foliate frame in green or red; and standing the figure of Jean de la Vallette on a low plinth in an appropriate setting. Here, tourists could stand and be photographed with the iconic founder of this World Heritage City.

The account of Romwald Mifsud’s strong speech to the recent seminar, as chairman of MTA, was most encouraging. There he boldly advocated an aggressive tourist strategy, reflecting a change of approach and radical rethink. An obvious place to start would be the City Gate and Royal Opera House.

Dare I also suggest two more tourist-directed initiatives. Coincidentally, London has just taken its famous red double-decker Routemaster buses off the streets. My direct inquiries reveal these are in good condition and available for about £8,000 sterling, each. Why not invest in four of these and adapt them for local climatic conditions? Place them on selected routes, perhaps Sliema Creek westwards. Secondly, though railways in Malta are but a fading memory, there is still much interest in steam-powered locomotion. Why not create a miniature-railway, two steam engines and a stream of carriages, for daily trips. Perhaps in the southwest near Dingli, as contours allow. Surely, very many visitors and local folk alike, especially children, would want to ride in all of these.

Thus, with a refurbished Opera House site, with its iconic fighter planes; a refurbished City Gate, with its national and city insignia and iconic statue of its founder and the London buses and miniature-railway, major tourist advances can be made. Guidebooks, TV films and videos would advertise all these worldwide. I am confident that Malta could achieve all this. Remember, 5,000 years ago, Malta still led the world.

Brian Philip

Kent