Oh dear, I would like to say welcome to Arriva. I would like to, but cannot... why? Because I have experience of them in the UK and I watched the prices go up up up! Talking to a friend last night, she said it costs £1.20 to go into town and this is only three stops away. They have not got the contract signed yet, but have already given the prices they are going to charge.

I think this will be the final nail in the coffin for tourism as far as Malta is concerned after the tax on hotels in the last budget which will be passed on to visitors. Malta will no longer be a cheap holiday resort and when you add to that the increase in air fares, it works out to be an expensive place to visit.

Can they tell me how they are going to tell tourists from us who live here on a permanent basis? Will we now have to show our ID cards each time we get on a bus?

I don’t suppose it would do any good if I asked the government to think again. On top of it all, buses that take 100 passengers... come on, get real. I cannot wait to see them get round the tight corners of Malta and not take the corners off houses etc.

Another big loss will be the old buses. Has the government never seen tourists taking photos of them to take back and show their mates?

In addition, does the government have to pay E6.2m in subsidies annually? Why is what I would like to know. Looks like Maltese taxpayers will lose out in all directions.

Pamela Crawford,

St Paul’s Bay