I refer to the threat by a British ‘animal rights’ activist (April 14) to boycott Maltese tourism, an idea that others before him are already carrying out, as demonstrated by the ongoing boycott by German would-be tourists so well described recently in this newspaper by the outgoing German Ambassador to Malta. This notwithstanding, tourism to this island is thriving while hunting is also flourishing.

That a certain Lawrie Phipps from Britain is thinking of a tourism boycott to force a hunting ban is of no consequence.

His extremist idea is not shared by Birdlife Malta that, in contrast, encourages people, especially bird lovers, to visit our country. Indeed, the fanaticism of some UK animal rights activists is well documented. Violent attacks, devastation of hunters’ property, intimidation letters, arson attacks, contamination of supermarket food products and death threats have all been recorded.

Phipps wants to hit our economy because of hunting illegalities and the fact, as he alleges, that spring hunting is allowed only in Malta and, worse, “in collusion with the Government”. This British anti-hunter needs to get his facts right.

Firstly, spring hunting of certain species goes on under derogation in other EU member States, including Britain. Secondly, Maltese spring hunting is the result of a historic ruling delivered by the European Court of Justice on September 10, 2009. The Government is merely putting into practice the ECJ’s decision and it does that with the ‘collusion’ of the EU Environment Commission to boot!

Interestingly, Phipps acknowledges that wildlife crime in the UK is no small issue, as the annual DEFRA (UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) reports confirm. Therefore, will he start a tourist boycott of Britain? After all, charity begins at home.