The launch of a EUR1.6 million tourism initiative involving Nikon Italy was going swimmingly at the Radisson last Friday until one of the journalists brought over to Malta for the event dropped a clanger.

Why has this venture been named ‘Shooting Malta’ he wanted to know when, as a Dutchman, he knows that this will immediately bring to people’s minds the Maltese predilection for shooting birds.

Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech had to use all his lawyer’s verbal skills to get out of that one.

The venture will bring 27 internationally-renowned photographers to take unusual photos of Malta from which a selection will be made later and used in a travelling advertising campaign for Malta.