Over the past few years, Malta has woken up to the fact that if we do not restore, and more importantly conserve, our cultural heritage it will degrade and eventually be lost.

Fortunately, things have started to move – there are plans to cover the temples of Mnajdra and Hagar Qim, for example.

But more importantly, we have also realised that the time has come to better present such monuments.

The Roman Domus is a very good example – not only has it been expertly restored, and more importantly it has been covered and sheltered from the elements, but visitors are now provided with an explanatory audio visual tour of artifacts that have been dug up from around the site.

This is not a re-invention of the wheel, and while we should welcome such initiatives, it is fair to point out that this model has been in place around the world for decades.

Anywhere you go, you are given a pair of headphones and you get an explanation of what you are looking at – in the language of your choice.

If one goes to any of the prehistoric temples at present, one simply meanders round and looks at a few explanatory plaques.

However, we must start to give added value. People, used in the general term purposely, would get much more out of their visits if they put on a set of headphones and listened to the history of these sites and get to know more about the country’s past.

It is good to see that most of, if not all, the restored buildings in the past few years do have a lot more information prominently displayed for visitors and locals alike to read and listen to. But we need to take it that one step further.

Tourism and Culture Minister Francis Zammit Dimech delivered a speech in parliament earlier this week pointing out that we need, as a country, to make more of our cultural heritage. And one would have to agree.

Sprucing things up is one thing. But as he said, the restoration of the Italian chapel within St John’s co-Cathedral made him realise that the other chapels needed doing and then that made him realise that the whole Co-cathedral needed doing.

He is, of course right. The wealth of history we have is quite amazing, one only needs to walk through Valletta with an open mind to see that even some of the old, decrepit and dilapidated houses are treasures in themselves.

We are moving slowly, but things are getting done. It is indeed unfortunate that it takes so long to restore the buildings, but it is a painstaking operation every time. Yet these efforts are bearing fruit.

It might take decades, but surely as a Unesco world heritage site, the whole of Valletta needs to be restored to its former glory.

Money would surely be available from the European Union and a concerted effort should be made to lobby for joint ventures to get this once great engineering feat back to pristine condition.

Valletta is the focal point for any visitor to Malta. Ask them what they know about Malta – and they will promptly reply “Valletta”.

If we can offer a city that is full of culture and heritage the visitors will come, especially now that we are trying to attract that sort of tourist. But unfortunately, a few restored chapels amongst grotty streets with broken pavements simply does not cut it.

To attract quality – one must offer quality. To make a comparison, if we need to be cruising in 5th gear, at the minute we are just crawling off in first. At least, it’s a start.