Malta depends on tourism, this is fact. We also have a pretty good package on offer. We are multi-lingual, the country has beaches and plenty of sun all year round and we have that X-factor. As the world becomes a smaller place, more and more travelers from far flung countries come to visit this unique little island of ours that is steeped in history, tradition, culture and nightlife. Add to that our quirkiness, and we realize why more and more people want to come and find out about Malta.

We are recording record numbers every year and almost every month. It has to be said that this is down to the hard work that has been put in by successive governments over the years. This government has continued where the old previous one left off and has continued to strive for more visitors and to open more attractions and expose more of our country’s roots.

But, as with everything in life, you can always improve on what you are good at.

Tourism Minister Karmenu Vella commissioned a study to find out what the top list of gripes by tourists was. This was a good move, but we must certainly act on the information at hand.

It is no surprise at all that the top complaint is probably the top recurring complaint that we Maltese make – and that is the state of the roads. A whopping 80% of tourists visiting Malta find them irksome. Over the past 15 years, successive governments, this one included, have commissioned the rebuilding of several roads – but no matter how many are completed, the deterioration of others always seems to leave us in the same spot. It is understandable that the whole of Malta cannot be shut off to complete a new network, but the ante must be upped – such a large percentage of people cannot be wrong.

The second complaint goes hand in hand, and that is of signage – 65 % of respondents said this was a problem. A representative of the Federation of English Language Schools said that the main issue was that “some bright spark” decided to put up signs in Maltese. He is right. We have two official languages and considering we make our livelihood out of tourism (and that most visitors speak some level of English), they should be in both languages.

The third, and perhaps most worrisome complaint is the lack of cleanliness. 50 % said this was a problem.

Malta can look scruffy. In winter, green takes over much of the islands, but when it turns brown and all the warts begin to appear, it is becoming apparent that we need to clean our act up. That also applies to people in general, we litter, we dump and we neglect things. These issues are fixable, but it will take a concerted effort to do so. Coupled with all the good things that are taking place in the sector, these issues should be made priorities.