Malltas Green Party Advocates for Sustainable Tourism Centered on Residents Well-being

September 08 2024 07:31 by PCLMedia

During a press conference in Birżebbuġa, Green Party spokespersons called for a renewed approach to tourism post-COVID-19, prioritizing the interests and quality of life of residents above unchecked growth.

Tourism Mismanagement and Its Consequences

ADPD Deputy Chairperson Melissa Bagley emphasized that while tourism can offer benefits, mismanagement leads to overtourism, disproportionately favoring a few while placing heavy burdens on residents. “The Maltese islands are experiencing issues due to exceeding tourism carrying capacity—physically, socially, and economically. This contributes to environmental, cultural, social, and economic challenges,” Bagley stated.

She highlighted the increasing discontent in popular tourist destinations like Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Italy, where residents face housing shortages due to short-term rentals, environmental degradation, water scarcity, traffic congestion, excessive construction, and a decline in overall quality of life.

“Malta is not immune,” Bagley continued, referencing the 2022 Deloitte Report on tourism carrying capacity in Malta, which indicated that by 2019, the volume of tourists was already negatively impacting resident and visitor satisfaction. This issue has only worsened as the number of tourists exceeded 2.8 million in 2023, leading to further pressure on infrastructure, overcrowded tourist spots, and environmental damage, such as that seen at Comino’s Natura 2000 site.

A Call for Sustainable Tourism

ADPD Chairperson Sandra Gauci criticized the current “growth-focused mindset” in tourism, which prioritizes quantity over quality and ignores long-term consequences. “This short-term vision is unsustainable,” Gauci said, noting the need for a shift toward more sustainable tourism practices.

Gauci referenced the “Malta Tourism Strategy 2021-2030 – Recover, Rethink, Revitalise,” which calls for a shift away from outdated tourism models. She emphasized that continuing with mass tourism is unsustainable and urged the government to follow through on its strategic vision of creating a “future-proof Malta.”

Gauci argued that the current eco-tax, set in 2016 at a mere €1 per bed-night with a cap of €5, is inadequate and needs revision. She proposed that funds collected should be allocated to regional and local councils rather than the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA), which currently uses the proceeds to promote further mass tourism. “Local councils need these funds to improve cleaning services, enforcement, and other essential community services,” she argued, adding that government subsidies for mass tourism airlines should be reconsidered as they contradict sustainable tourism efforts.

The Need for Concrete Action

Gauci stressed that policies must translate into real action. “It’s not enough to have impressive policies on paper; the government must act decisively. Actions speak louder than words,” she asserted.

The surge in European tourism has led to unprecedented levels of visitors, sparking anti-tourism sentiments among locals in many popular destinations, including Malta. This influx is driving up costs, polluting cities, damaging heritage sites, overburdening infrastructure, and causing resident discontent. In response, some cities like Lisbon and Amsterdam have doubled their tourist taxes, while Italy is considering imposing a €25 per night fee. Barcelona’s mayor plans to ban all short-term rentals to tourists by 2028.

Ironically, the very cultural appeal that attracts tourists is being eroded by overtourism. While tourism boosts the economy, it also imposes significant costs on infrastructure and conservation efforts. For too long, the success of the tourism industry has been narrowly defined by visitor numbers, neglecting the broader impacts on residents and the environment.