Kelliema ta’ ADPD-The Green Party elenkaw sensiela ta’ proposti kif jindirizzaw is-sitwazzjoni tat-turiżmu f’pajjiżna li ħafna studji juri li leħqet numru mhux sostenibbli. Tkellmu wkoll dwar id-dritt għall-aċċess għal kampanja u kif dan jista’ jiġi mħares aktar. Huma għamlu dan meta indirizzaw konferenza stampa fil-pjazza tal-Mellieħa.

Il-PRO ta’ ADPD u kandidat fuq distretti 3 u 4, Brian Decelis semma’ numru ta’ miżuri kif id-dritt għall-aċċess għall-kampanja għandu jkun imħares fosthom li l-passaġġi kollha għandom jkunu aċċessibbli għal kulħadd, inkluż dawk li jkunu fuq artijiet pubbliċi imqabblin lil bdiewa. Għanda tiġi pubblikata mappa definittiva ta’ passaġġi pubbliċi u tinħolog aġenzija nazzjonali sabiex timmaniġġja rottot tal-mixi (trails) eżistenti u dawk pjanifikati fil-pjanijiet lokali. L-ewwel rotta tal-mixi nazzjonali (National Trail) għanda titwaqqaf tul il-Victoria Lines.

Iċ-Chairperson tal-partit u kandidata fuq distretti 6 u 12, Sandra Gauci, min-naħa tagħha, saħqet kif it-turiżmu tħalla jikber b’mod esaġerat b’impatti negattivi li ħafna drabi jiżbqu il-ġid li jinħoloq. Minkejja il-pressjoni bit-turiżmu esaġerat (over-tourism) in-numri tal-lum iridu jkomplu jiżdiedu biex jimtlew il-lukandi eżisteni jew dawk proġettati. Imma il-pajjiż ma jiflaħx iktar għal dan kollu u dan narawh speċjalment kull sajf fuq l-infrastruttura li tikkrolla, ineffiċjenzi fil-ġbir tal-iskart u servizzi oħra.

Dan il-piż tat-turiżmu esaġerat jinħass ukoll fuq l-attivita’ tal-kostruzzjoni mhux biss dik tal-lukandi infushom imma ukoll spekulazzjoni fuq żviluppi residenzjali li jingħataw għall-kiri fuq perjodu qasir (short-term lets). Dan jinħass f’ċertu lokalitajiet aktar minn oħrajn fostom u hemm bżonn kontrolli ikbar mill-awtoritajiet relattivi biex l-interessi tar-residenti jingħataw prijorita’.

Bil-għan li dan jitwettaq ADPD jipproponi tlett miżuri għal azzjoni immedjata:

1. Jieqaf it-trattament preferenzjali tat-turiżmu mill-Awtorita’ tal-Ippjanar, fostom il-politika li tippermetti sulari addizzjonali għal lukandi;
2. Il-bankini u il-pjazez jiġu ritornati lin-nies u jieqaf l-ingombru tagħħom bl-imwejjed u is-siġġijiet li joħolqu diffikultajiet kbar fl-aċċess għal residenti. ADPD kienet minn ta’ quddiem biex tappoġġja lill-għaqdiet tar-residenti fostom fil-kampanja ta’ Il-Bankini taċ-Ċittadini anke hawnhekk fil-Mellieħa.
3. Il-Kunsilli Lokali għandu jkollom rwol ċentrali fir-regolamentazzjoni tat-turiżmu fil-lokalita’ tagħhom fostom billi l-ammont sħiħ tal-eko-kontribuzzjoni għandu jgħaddi kollu għand il-kunsill tal-lokalita’ biex dan jagħmel tajjeb għall-impatt tal-industrija fuq l-istess lokalita’. Propjeta’ residenzjali m’għandiex tkun tista’ tintuża bħala short-let rental mingħajr l-approvazzjoni tal-kunsill lokali.

Fuq kollox għandna nimmiraw li jonqsu in-numru tat-turisti li jżuruna u minflok nibdew niffukaw fuq turiżmu ta’ kwalita’, bil-għan li il-ħsara eżistenti tkun indirizzata. Kwalunkwe attivita’ turistika għanda issir b’rispett sħiħ lejn ir-residenti, temmet tgħid Gauci.

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ADPD calls for quality tourism that respects communities

Speakers for ADPD-The Green Party presented a list of proposals on how they would address the current situation in tourism in Malta, with many studies now showing that it has reached unsustainable levels.  They also spoke about the right of access to the countryside and how this can be better safeguarded.  This was done while they addressed a press conference at Mellieha Square.   

The PRO for ADPD and candidate on districts 3 and 4, Brian Decelis mentioned a number of measures, including the need to protect the right of access to the countryside, including the fact that all passageways should be accessible to all, including those to be found on public land lent out to farmers.  A map of all definitive public passageways should be published, and a national agency to oversee existing trails and future trails in the local plans.  The first National Trail should be established along the Victoria Lines.

Chairperson and candidate on districts 6 and 12, Sandra Gauci reiterated that tourism has been allowed to go unchecked, resulting in multiple negative impacts on the community, so much so that any positive benefits are now overshadowed by the negative impacts.  Despite the pressures from overtourism, today’s numbers would need to increase to fill every hotel in existence or those planned to be built.  The country cannot take on more, and this is particularly evident in the summer when our infrastructure collapses, waste collection becomes inefficient, amongst other failures.    

The weight of overtourism is being felt as well in the construction sector, not only in the case of hotels but also speculation on residential developments that are now being reserved for short-term lets.  This is felt more in some localities than others, and therefore more intervention is needed by respective authorities to ensure that residents are given priority  

For this to happen, ADPD proposes the following three measures:

1.    The cessation of preferential treatment given by the Planning Authority, amongst them permits allowing hotels to add on more storeys.

2. The pavements and square are returned to the people; blocking these public spaces with tables and chairs creates difficulties for residents who need them for access.  ADPD wholly supported resident networks on this, supporting their endeavours during the il-Bankini taċ-Ċittadini campaign, as well as here in Mellieħa.

3. The local councils should have a central role in the regulation of tourism in their locality; moreover, they should receive all ecotax contributions collected in the locality to offset any negative impact that the industry creates for the said locality.  Residential properties should not be used for short-let rental purposes without the approval of the local council. 

Above all, we must aim for a reduction in tourist numbers and focus on quality tourism to address the damage tourism is causing.  All tourist activity must be planned and conducted with residents in mind, concluded Gauci.