Writer’s critical review on Malta, published by respected travel guide, sparks debate

A not-so-glowing review of Malta was published by Fodor’s, sparking discontent among commentators.

Fodor’s, a well-respected travel website that originated as a publication, has published 440 guides covering over 300 destinations and employs more than 700 permanently stationed researchers worldwide.

American Freelance Writer Greyson Ferguson, the author of the review, titled his piece “Think Twice Before Visiting This European Island.” The article opens with a sarcastic tone, listing what the island is supposedly known for, setting the stage for what is clearly a negative review.

Mr Ferguson visited Malta after a trip to Spain, and from the moment he arrived, he encountered issues. “It took me a bit longer to make it to my hotel once landing in Malta than I’d like, thanks to four different Uber drivers abandoning my pickup, but hey, that happens everywhere,” he wrote.

He noted that most hotels are located along the streets of St. Julian’s, Sliema, Gżira, Floriana, and Valletta. However, Malta offers a wide range of Airbnb options in many localities, giving visitors more choice in accommodation. One Maltese commentator criticised the author’s choice to stay in St. Julian’s, suggesting that the area primarily appeals to young people attracted to its nightlife, which was not something that the author was looking for.

On his second day, Mr Ferguson remarked on Malta’s lack of beaches. “In St. Julian’s, there was a sliver of sand, enough for a single sunbather and maybe a dog” he stated. However few, St. Julian’s has two sandy beaches: Balluta Bay and St. Geroge’s beach. These two beaches are always filled with tourists, so one might not actually find a place to lay down there, but not because of their small size.

Continuing with his critique of Malta’s beaches, he lamented that “the only beaches with actual sand require a 45-minute cross-island Uber ride (at least) to reach places like Golden Bay.”

Mr Ferguson also commented on the scarcity of seafood during his visit to Marsaxlokk, attributing it to the fishing restrictions imposed by the country. However, he did acknowledge the uniqueness of Maltese cuisine, writing, “thanks to its British background and proximity to Sicily, a hybrid of English and Italian cuisine exists.”

While visiting Mdina, he expressed further disappointment, stating that the only activities available were “touring a few cathedrals and popping into the same tourist shop that seems to replicate itself in various corners of the town; there’s very little to see and do.” Responding to this comment, a Maltese commenter noted that Mdina is a historical site with panoramic views of Malta and that its cathedrals are unique. Adding to this, one can get a guided tour of Mdina to learn about all the history that surrounds the narrow streets, and visiting places like Mdina Dungeons, Palazzo Falson, and the Carmelite Priory, to just name a few.

He concluded his review by saying, “while Malta boasts plenty to see and experience, it’s not a destination I would recommend people travel exclusively to.”

The comment section of the article reveals strong disagreement from readers, who blamed Mr Ferguson’s negative experience on his lack of research before visiting the island. One commenter said that this article was “one of the oddest travel articles I have ever read. I think of Fodor’s as being a source of quality writing – this is not that.”

On a broader scale, Mr Ferguson’s frustrations seem to reflect some of the challenges Malta faces, particularly overpopulation, with a density of 1,677 individuals per square kilometre, three times higher than the Netherlands, making it the most densely populated country in Europe. This overpopulation contributes to the heavy traffic that one finds in Malta, turning a short journey into a long one.

Malta’s economy relies heavily on the tourism industry. In 2023, the total contribution of travel and tourism to the gross domestic product in Malta totaled 2.6 billion euros. This means that articles like this, on well-respected travel websites, might discourage tourists from visiting the island, making a negative impact on the economy.