Responsible citizenship

Responsible citizenship is an important factor in developing a country's identity and civic awareness that can lead to political, social and economic stability. It is these last three factors that, in turn, will lead to everyone reaping the fruits of collective success together.

This was the main focus for the Nationalist Party's general council meeting last month in Naxxar, and I could easily see these successes having a profound impact on the development of a more sustainable and qualitative tourism industry if we all do our bit and act responsibly.

Acting responsibly means doing one's duty as a citizen to ensure that standards and the quality of services and products are both moral, ethical and constitute an effective "return on investment" or value for money experience to the ordinary consumer, both local and foreign.

We have certainly come a long way in 20 years but this is by no means the end of the road for this continuous struggle with a world that is so consumerist and polarised!

Climate change

We need to continue our efforts to reduce the negative impact of climate change, which is having such a profound effect on the economy and our health. The principles of reducing global warming have been spelt out to us during the past decade.

Yet, like many of the larger nations, we will persist in our 'business as usual' attitude - we carry on using our vehicles, even when public transport is an option; we use domestic white goods and electrical appliances without a thought about the emissions we are causing to be generated into the atmosphere; and we buy cheap goods which are not environment-friendly.

But let us look at each of these issues that could determine our responsibilities as citizens in today's global environment.

Sustainability issues and MDG

The Millennium Development Goals include eight objectives set during the Millennium Summit of World Leaders in 2000. They cover social as well as environmental issues, including primary education for all, eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, and health.

Perhaps, to many of us in these islands, these issues have already been solved, or are in the process of being solved. But here again, we must all do our part to ensure that issues that concern the common good, such as the environment and health, are implemented by each of us.

Many of us still tend to consider implementation as solely the remit of Government - I would hope we can understand, by now, why our own input is vital to the success of the implementation process here.

Civic awareness

We all need to have a sense of civic awareness, both in our behaviour as consumers as well as in our daily lives. Civic awareness means we cannot carry on abusing our environment, our rights as citizens and our resources as if we were living for today!

The irony is that by behaving in this way we will most definitely be jeopardising our future and the future of generations that could come after us. The greatest ally in our fight to protect the environment has been the European Union.

The numerous directives that were transposed into our local legislation have made this institution a vital key to increasing awareness in an otherwise insular country.

The funds that will be available over the next five years for projects through the EU will not only help improve our quality of life but also help us understand why, more than what, when it comes to our concept of civic awareness.

Responsible tourism

A relatively new strain of sustainable tourism policy today includes the role and responsibilities of the visitor rather than the host in preserving destinations and cultures.

Tourism has an impact on the economy of any country, but also on the culture, traditions and character of the people, as well as the infrastructure. By considering the local lifestyle and traditions, the tourist will ensure that the destination will preserve its characteristic as well as biodiversity.

Awareness starts at university

Responsible citizenship, including responsibility in tourism and consumer issues, should most certainly be directed through academic institutions as well as the public service.

Government has already introduced a number of responsible measures leading to responsible citizenship; it would be important now to see these policies adopted in private industry, the University and other educational institutions.

One small contribution could be a nominal fee for student parking at the University and these institutes, that is either based on the 'polluter pays' principle or else could encourage students to use public transport, avoiding traffic jams and lowering carbon emissions!

Simple things that we can do in our daily lives to be responsible citizens; simple things that cost nothing but have an immense return on investment, through a better quality of life for us all when we will most certainly be able to reap the fruits of our successes together in the years to come!

Mr Zarb is a freelance tourism journalist and media presenter as well as vice-president of the European Union of Tourism Officers - EUTO.