The talent that has been brought over to Malta this year is absolutely phenomenal and we are gaining kudos and exposure around the world as a result.

It all kicked off with the fantastic performance delivered by one of The Tenors, Jose Carreras and our very own Lydia Caruana in the unique setting of Palace Square in Valletta.

Then we had the marvellous Bryan Adams who wooed the audience that gathered at the Luxol Grounds. The crowd was huge, and we can safely say that a sizeable contingent were not Maltese. In fact, the audience for Carreras was also mixed.

Italian star Zucchero, the Wailers and Robert Plant from Led Zeppelin also gave performances and this appeased the tastes of yet more music fans. But there literally has been something for everyone this year. Just last week, world renowned French DJ Bob Sinclar gave a great performance at the X-fm music festival. Tomorrow, The Isle of MTV will be held at the Granaries in Floriana, free to boot. We can expect performances from stars such as Enrique Igelsias, Akon, Maroon 5 and a whole plethora of Maltese talent.

The two key factors which have made this such a successful summer for Malta this year in the entertainment field have got to be variety and quality. Variety is not our usual strength, in fact, we can be quite a boring people that gets stuck in our own daily routines and never come up with anything new.

However, this year, the various concert organisers, and the Malta Tourism Authority have surpassed all expectations. All players have really pulled off a great job each time they have organised something. The bar has, however, been raised and the Maltese public and even visitors from abroad have raised their expectations accordingly.

Aside from being a cash cow, these events have raised the profile of Malta abroad. No amount of advertising on whatever medium can compare with adverts of a huge party raging in Malta being aired on the popular MTV. Equally, articles about Jose Carreras’ performance here in magazines dedicated to opera and classical music have a great impact.

We must learn to capitalise on what we have to offer. We have the necessary ingredients – crowds are not rowdy in Malta, there is not much trouble at these events. Compared to other places in the world, they are also drug free. We also have an abundant heritage, the weather, the sea and good old Maltese hospitality.

It is good to see that we are finally learning how to enjoy it again.

All in all, Malta seems to be coming to terms with its identity. We are enjoying our food and our wines, we are enjoying our music and our history, we are even enjoying our simple surroundings. Much of this is down to the physical improvements that have been registered in the past few years. But another part of it, which is the crucial ingredient, is our own attitude towards life. Essentially, we are becoming a modern, vibrant Mediterranean nation.

We must continue in this direction. Say too much about something and you might start to believe it, and that is what the case becomes when we listen to our own moaning and groaning day after day. If we truly start to take pride in, and enjoy our own culture, then others might do too.