Service to the tourist industry

I have read with interest Frank Salt's interview (August 16). The views expressed by him on the urgent need of more investment in the tourism industry make sense and I suggest that his ideas be supported.

I have known Mr Salt since 1995, when our Aviation Museum was still in its infancy and our members had only just recovered the wartime wreckage of a sunken Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft from the seabed off Wied iz-Zurrieq. This was then a mass of tangled corroded metal, the aircraft having been lying on the seabed for 54 years and was often caught and dragged by fishermen in their nets.

We were at that point in time looking for sponsorship for its restoration to display standards for inclusion in our museum when Mr Salt came forward and offered financial help for its reconstruction to start. Even though what he saw was a twisted wreckage, he had faith in our determination to see the project through as he was aware of our capabilities on the earlier Spitfire reconstruction project.

His faith in us has paid dividends as the project is now well past the halfway mark. It has been attracting the attention of many overseas visitors to our island and museum year after year, who follow its progress. Visitors will, as from now, be able to see the completed fuselage dressed in its fresh coat of camouflage paint.

The spray-paint camouflage job was carried out by Vintage Fabrics Ltd, a professional team of UK specialists who came out to Malta both to enjoy our hospitality, sun and sea, as well as honour an earlier promise to us and paint our aircraft as their contribution to our project. The same team had last year fabric-covered the same aircraft.

In the United Kingdom, Europe and America, aviation museums are popular tourist attractions that draw millions of visitors. Because of this they receive great support from their respective governments and private industry.

The Imperial War Museum airfield at Duxford, which occupies an area almost the size of our international airport, has just been given £4 million to be able it to enlarge its superhangar. With a fraction of that money at our disposal we are capable of establishing a similar but smaller Aviation Museum in Malta. The government has helped us by providing the land but local industry has not yet shown the same trust that Mr Salt has shown in us.

It is now being realised by the authorities and business concerns that tourists seek other attractions than just the sun and the sea. Heritage sites and museums are now being regarded as important players in the mix of tourist requirements for a successful holiday.

It is therefore most important that everybody realises the necessity for us to provide the best possible image and service to the tourist industry.