Action, not words

Areport published recently by the World Economic Forum within the framework of the Global Competitiveness Network and the Industry Partnership Programme for Aviation, Travel and Tourism has benchmarked Malta with 130 other countries with regard to a number of aspects and sectors connected with the travel and tourism industry.

Evidence given in court by Malta Tourism Authority chairman Sam Mifsud during proceedings on the controversial Mistra development has given rise to a milieu of questions on what is supposed to be the commitment of the government with regard to sustainable development. Mr Mifsud practically said that the MTA's main considerations with regard to development are based on the industry's narrow and sectoral interest, with little or no attention being given to environmental obligations. The Nationalist government is supposed to be committed by the contents of many documents on this vital holistic approach as to how to achieve sustainable economic growth for Malta. The government has issued a 10-year strategy to accomplish sustainable development and a four-year plan for the tourism industry. A Sustainable Development Strategy For The Maltese Islands 2006-2016 is already two years old and the Tourism Policy For The Maltese Islands 2007-2011 is one year old.

Whereas the above public documents are, as usual, full of good intentions, the World Economic Forum has benchmarked Malta behind practically all our direct competitors in the Mediterranean and Europe in the tourism industry in relation to a 14-pillar classification. It is shocking and sad that even some of the countries that are still in their infancy in terms of tourism development have scored better than the Maltese islands in this benchmarking exercise.

To keep to the issue of sustainable development, the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2008, by the WEF, sustains that the theme of the study - Balancing Economic Development And Environmental Sustainability - "reflects the increasing focus on ensuring the industry's sustained growth while protecting the natural environment upon which it so greatly depends... However, the industry's need to demonstrate strong leadership in this area has become important only in recent years, primarily as a result of increased global awareness of the impact of global climate change and pollution on tourist destinations".

Recent statements in court unequivocally demonstrate that the tourism industry in Malta lacks strong leadership, particularly in the face of demands from double-faced and ego-centric politicians in power.

It is therefore not surprising that Malta lagged behind in the classification with regard to the stringency of environmental regulation. Even Tunisia, Qatar, Oman, Uzbekistan, Gambia, Kenya, Bahrain and Tajikistan have scored better than us with regard to the enforcement of environmental regulation.

On the other hand, in terms of the sustainability of travel and tourism industry development on the basis of whether the government of the country is taking the necessary steps to ensure that the travel and tourism sector is being developed in a sustainable way, this same report classifies Malta even behind Senegal, India, Nigeria, Cambodia, Namibia and Vietnam, to mention a few other countries.

This definitely underscores the need that Malta's way forward to effective sustainable development must be based on action, not words!

Ms Coleiro-Preca is Shadow Minister for Tourism.