While visiting Malta last week we were perplexed and embarrassed to read the letter Malta as a tourist destination (TMID, 22 April) from our fellow countryman, John Lane of Buffalo, complaining about your country’s “ill maintained and limited attractions”.

We enjoyed our stay at the Hotel Castille in Valletta and were impressed by the convenient airport, the cleanliness of the cities, the many fine and accessible churches, forts and museums, your restaurants and local wines, the inexpensive public transportation which took us all over Malta and Gozo, and particularly the well done and informative historical presentations like “The Malta Experience”.

Mr Lane’s puzzling comparison of Malta to Detroit is ridiculous; Detroit, considered a tourist attraction by no one, is known in the US chiefly for its high crime rate. We are already looking forward to a return visit to Malta; I am sorry for Mr Lane that he was disappointed but it would be unfortunate if his personal experiences were to deter sophisticated US travellers from a wonderful travel destination. The Maltese seem to be working hard to promote tourism, and the results, for most of us, are appreciated.

David Rhody and Lisa Trapani

Philadelphia, USA