Not a cheap destination

I read the letters in The Times most days, but have not noticed any letters about the exchange rate offered to tourists as highlighted by Anthony Curmi on January 3.

In over 20 years of visiting Malta I have never had a problem and always shopped around for the best rate, often found in Bugibba. Anyone changing currency in a hotel accepts that they will receive an inferior rate. This is the same in any country. Tourists were more likely to "lose" liri when the 50c coin was "confused" by some unscrupulous traders and a few bus drivers, with the very similar 25c coin. I have seen this happen. I am unsure why Mr Curmi should raise this point and I have to wonder if it's the tourists that he actually objects to?

I dislike the euro. In my view it seems only to have advantages for international trade among big companies and other such financial institutions. I accept that moving around the eurozone, as a tourist, using one currency is helpful, but is it not part of a country's individuality to find different currencies when encountering such a journey? The only effect that it has, to the public, is to raise prices.

In recent months the £1 had slipped from 68p to 74p per euro but I am happy to sacrifice that for the independence and pride that having our own currency and heritage gives. It is my hope that Malta will not suffer with price inflation in the same way as some other European countries have. Some of those countries now wish that they had never accepted the euro.

I understand that as a small country Malta had no choice, once agreeing to join the EU, about accepting the euro. I hope it will not lose its identity with these changes. I hope that I will still continue to visit my valued friends in Malta each year, but if the euro does too much damage, as I believe it will, I may need to reduce my visits as Malta, even now, is not a cheap destination.