MTA highlights environmental credentials

The Malta Tourism Authority this afternoon sought to defend itself from criticism that it is not giving importance to the environment by listing environmental initiatives it has taken.

Spokesmen for the MLP and Alternattiva Demokratika yesterday criticised MTA chairman Sam Mifsud for having told a court hearing on the Mistra case that the MTA, when proposing development, only considered tourism requirements, leaving aspects such as the environment to the relevant authorities.

In its statement today, the MTA said that the present day procedure for assessing tourism projects and the issuance of Tourism Policy Compliance certificates (TPCCs) involved not just a technical and tourism-oriented review of applications, but also scrutiny of each application and how such applications conformed to the Tourism Policy document and the tasks set out in the Tourism Plan 2007 - 2011, of which environmental considerations formed an important component. The salient features of each such application were assessed by the MTA are then passed on to the recently formed Tourism and Sustainable Development Unit within the Office of the Prime Minister for further analysis.

Listing its environment initiatives, the MTA highlighted the Eco Certification initiative, where hotels that adopt various pre-ordained eco-friendly measures are awarded the official Eco certification.

It also pointed out that it was promoting international Blue Flag status for beaches (which focuses especially on eco-friendly measures) and said that this year's World Tourism Day (27th September) initiatives would focus on the challenges of climate change and global warming.

The MTA said it had also co-funded schemes for landscaping and environmental upgrading projects by local councils, as well as afforestation projects implemented together with Birdlife (Foresta 2000) in Ta' Qali, the Simar Nature reserve, the Ghadira Nature reserve and Sta. Margherita gardens, Vittoriosa.

The MTA stressed that it had no current policy for turning the north of Malta into an entertainment hub, the likes of Paceville.

"The Authority is conscious of the environmental importance and scenic value of the north of Malta, and is committed to enhance and embellish the region's product and product offer, especially within the St. Paul's Bay, Bubibba, Qawra and Mellieha area. To this end, the MTA has submitted to the government a number of projects for E.U. funding and is pleased to note that three of its projects for the north have been approved by government. The MTA is conscious of the importance of the environment, as an intricate part of the product we would like to offer our tourists, and will strive to support projects that enhance the environment."