The golden hordes on the isle of Calypso : if the myth fails

Abstract

"Reliable sources close to the Ministry of Tourism say that during a Cabinet meeting held earlier this month, at which the Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism was present, it was decided that a call for international tenders is to be issued for specialist contractors interested in Malta's most ambitious engineering project. This project involves the moving of the Ggantija megalithic temples from their original site in Xaghra to it-Tokk, in Victoria. Contemporaneously, an international competition is also being held for the best design for the restructuring of it-Tokk, including the demolition of some buildings surrounding this square". This report comes from an imaginary edition of an equally imaginary newspaper. However, as I was reading this extract during the seminar "Tourism in Gozo" I noticed the different reactions on the faces of the audience. Some smiled taking it for a stupid and false report, others expressed consternation at the presumed scoop. The significance of this element of disbelief will become obvious as I proceed with this paper.