Malta has just got more expensive for anyone coming over and whose currency is on a downward spiral against the euro.

Be they British, Congolese or Americans the situation is faced by all. I do however want to make one correction to my letter (TMID, 14 April), because according to what I read very recently, the number of British tourists coming over to Malta in the first quarter this year was actually higher and not lower compared to the first quarter last year. I had written before the information was made known, hence my guessing numbers.

Also, Mr Alex P. Galea (TMID, 17 April) should have also mentioned that the British will find it just as tough visiting any of the 16 European countries using the euro as their currency. Therefore any complaints about this subject should be copied to the other 15.

Yes, unfortunately, the British tourists and students will have to fork out some more but this time around, they cannot blame domestic arbitrary valuation of the currency but rather their hard-nosed approach to joining the eurozone and their falling sterling.

Indeed, this year Malta may need some belt-tightening but not for the reasons Mr Galea fears. Any belt-tightening required would be for controlling inflation due to massive price increases in oil, cereals and general merchandise, a good portion of which Malta imports from the UK.

Joe Martinelli

London, Ontario

Canada