Tourism Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco said he was concerned at the attack of a Spanish tourist by an aggressive bus driver.

He ordered an investigation and asked the tourism authority to apologise and offer the tourist a free holiday to Malta to make amends.

The apology will continue to soften the stand taken by Isabel Reymundo Cuesta, from Madrid, who had vowed never to return to Malta after a bus driver threw tickets in her face and pulled her arms in an attempt to throw her off the bus.

She said she was reconsidering her decision and was surprised at the kindness and the help she found from the Maltese and the tourism authorities.

Dr de Marco said the bus driver's behaviour was a "national shame".

"We are trying our best to promote Malta abroad and it costs money, then you have a person like this bus driver who throws it all away," he said.

Admitting he was very embarrassed with the bus driver's behaviour, Dr de Marco pointed out that it was the behaviour of one man and not of the entire country.