It-turiżmu tħalla jikber b’mod esaġerat b’impatti negattivi li ħafna drabi jġibu fix-xejn il-ġid li jkun jinħoloq. Hemm bżonn azzjoni immedjata qabel ma jkun tard wisq. Il-pajjiż ma jiflaħx iktar għal dan kollu u dan narawh speċjalment kull sajf fuq l-infrastruttura li qed tikkrolla, ineffiċjenzi fil-ġbir tal-iskart u servizzi oħra. Dan qalitu iċ-Chairperson ta’ ADPD-The Green Party Sandra Gauci b’riferenza għal problemi li jidher li qegħdin jiżdiedu minn sena għall-oħra.

Il-konsegwenzi ta’ dan qegħdin narawhom kull fejn inħarsu madwarna. Biżżejjed naraw il-problemi bil-kwalita’ tal-baħar hekk kif l-infrastruttura ma tlaħħaqx maż-żieda fil-popolazzjoni u d-drenaġġ jispiċċa kemm-il darba fl-ibħra tagħna. Fl-aħħar xahar biss kellna l-egħluq ta’ diversi bajjiet popolari minħabba din il-problema – f’Birżebbuġa, fi Qui-Si-Sana tas-Sliema u fil-Bajja tal-Għażżelin f’San Pawl il-Baħar.

Saħansitra waħda mill-akbar gazzetti fl-Amerka – in-New York Post – iddeskriviet lil pajjiżna bħala “crammed, jammed vacation destination” – u dan fi żmien meta Malta għadha kemm inawgurat titjiriet diretti minn New York bil-għan li tattira turisti ta’ kwalita’.

Ir-rapport ċitat minn New York Post iddeskriva lil gżiritna bħala l-iktar waħda iffullata fl-Ewropa. Ir-rapport ta’ BookRetreats.com jikkwota lil Malta fl-ewwel post ta’ densità fit-turiżmu. Filwaqt li Mallorca tiġbed l-akbar numru ta’ turisti, ir-rapport jgħid li mkien ma jeżisti it-turiżmu ikkonċentrat daqs Malta.

Saħansitra l-kap tal-ajruport f’pajjiżna qiegħed iwissi li mistennija kjuwijiet twal ta’ passiġieri li jaslu f’pajjiżna wara li ġew introdotti miżuri ġodda ta’ sigurtà fl-ajruporti. “Dan hu t-tapit l-aħmar u l-‘Welcome to Malta’ li qegħdin inlestu għall-viżitaturi f’pajjiżna”, staqsiet Gauci.

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 prijorità.

Fuq kollox għandna nimmiraw li jonqos in-numru tat-turisti li jżuruna u minflok nibdew niffukaw fuq turiżmu ta’ kwalita’, bil-għan li l-ħsara eżistenti tkun indirizzata. Kwalunkwe attività turistika għandha ssir b’rispett sħiħ lejn ir-residenti, temmet tgħid Gauci.

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Addressing the problem with tourism before it’s too late

After having allowed it to grow at an excessive pace, the negative impacts of tourism are now cancelling out the benefits.  Immediate action is now needed before it is too late.  The country cannot take on more of this unchecked growth, which is putting pressure on the infrastructure and other local services in general, including waste management.  ADPD – The Green Party Chairperson Sandra Gauci highlighted this, referring to the problems that are on the increase from year to year.

We are witnessing the consequences of all this – all one needs to do is to have a good look around us.  It is enough to see that the quality of our beaches has deteriorated due to infrastructure that cannot keep up with the increase in population, with drainage ending up in the sea on many occasions.  In recent weeks, we have seen several popular beaches closed to the public, namely in Birżebbuġa, Qui-Si-Sana in Sliema and it Bajja tal-Għażżelin in St Paul’s Bay. 

The current situation has also attracted the attention of one of the most popular newspapers in the United States, the New York Post, which has described our country as a “crammed, jammed vacation destination” right after Malta announced direct flights from New York to attract quality tourists. 

The report cited by the New York Post describes Malta as the most crowded place in Europe.  The BookRetreats report cites Malta as Europe’s most tourist-dense island.  Whilst Mallorca is reported to attract more tourists, the report also says that no other island beats Malta in tourist density.  In fact, the MIA CEO has already warned authorities of long passenger queues at the airport after the introduction of new security measures.   “Is this the red-carpet treatment and the ‘Welcome to Malta’ that we are preparing for visitors to our country?” asked Gauci.

The weight of overtourism is being felt in the construction industry, not only because of the increase in hotels but also because of speculation involving residential properties used for short-term lets. This is being felt in some areas more than others, and there is a need for the relevant authorities to control this so that residents’ needs come first. 

Above all, we should aim to reduce the number of tourists visiting us and instead focus on quality tourism.  Every single tourist activity and event should be planned and conducted with full respect towards residents in mind, concluded Gauci.