This week the news was focused on the reopening of schools and university and the dramatic increase in traffic and chaos on the roads where the "Men in Costumes" (the Police) are nowhere to be seen controlling this mayhem, and the "stand-ins" from Transport Malta are semi-comatosed on the roundabouts and junctions waving their hands this way and that! Signs of a country in decay, in decline and in chaos.

Yet this present "Government" (for want of a worse description) is totally alienated from this situation and continues to play the dark game of impunity. Certainly, this is not the right way to attract quality visitors to this destination, that has died, and where service and hospitality are words that lack any action. This week I will describe just how the country has been plucked of any service or hospitality or of any good old-fashioned welcome.

A destination must be attractive and have some "pull factor" for the real visitor who wants to be there. As I have discussed in my last articles this is only possible when we rethink, redevelop or restore tourism; it seems that the tourism policy today is a far cry from that sensible process to quality tourism. You only have to go to Valletta, Sliema and St Julian's that were such welcome sights up to forty or fifty years ago, and they are shabby, disgusting areas teaming with visitors and locals who make these places look as dangerous as the Bronx or some similar area! What's worse after 11 pm you cannot find a reasonable, stylish, hospitable restaurant or coffee shop ready to serve customers - it is only open to delinquents and druggies.

When I see the state of these places, I am reminded of the restaurants, the coffee shops and the elegant bars we had on the Islands forty or fifty years ago, places you could recommend to visitors and friends and family. Today, I am sorry I cannot recommend any decent restaurant (the food is inedible and the service is totally absent) or bar or coffee shop (these are all closed by 7 pm or 9 pm). Oh yes, in the last decade you have killed this destination with the lack of hospitality and service. It will take a new Government and authority to build up the correct reputation again. But here are the six stages you can also do to ensure that we start to rebuild our sense of hospitality and service:

Start to be selective what you accept in the way of fare in the restaurants, bars and coffee shops. You are the customer, you pay the employee wages and the businessperson's profits. You have the right and the tools to complain - use them online. Name and shame.

Do not allow the server to treat you like some distraction to their phone or conversation with their colleagues. If they insist on ignoring you (there are some servers here who are specially trained in the art of ignoring customers), just stand up and walk out. Make sure you attract their attention to this.

If the order is not what you expect or, worse, it does not relate to the recipe or proper presentation - just send it back. If the cook is not capable of knowing the menu and presentation then you should not have to pay for third rate swill.

Service and hospitality works both ways - you as the customer must practice these two qualities and you have every right to expect them in return from the server or establishment. Do not allow insolence or such behaviour, make sure you voice your opinion to that attitude or nonservice and hospitality.

Perhaps it is time we made use of restaurants and coffee shops and not order food in (unless we need to for health or work-related reasons). Give these outlets a chance to deliver a quality service and hospitality.

Finally, remember that you will make this destination welcome by socialising and frequenting the food and beverage outlets - if you stay away then you are doing your part in killing this destination.

By following these six stages, we can ensure that these Islands are managed professionally, sustainably and with the idea of developing a quality activity that attracts the visitor who wants to be here. Travel and Tourism to these Islands today is about quantitative gains for the greedy and uncouth. We need to put professionalism and hospitality back in the equation.