MHRA backs concession for tourists

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association yesterday backed the proposal to exempt tourists from the residents' parking scheme in Sliema, saying the idea was "logical", although it lambasted the scheme.

Earlier this week, Tourism Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco proposed that tourists driving rented cars while residing at a Sliema hotel should be exempted from the parking restrictions.

"It is only logical to grant these temporary residents such privileges. However, these same conditions must be applied equally in every locality where similar parking problems are faced, rather than discriminating against tourists residing outside Sliema," the association said.

Although these small concessions were "a move in the right direction", the government should intervene in this "awkward and ill-founded regulation" to ensure a sound and holistic plan is drawn up for each particular area.

While welcoming Dr de Marco's idea, the MHRA strongly criticised the proposed scheme in Sliema, saying "ill-thought parking schemes in prime commercial areas have a negative impact on tourism and will impede tourists' mobility".

It said it would be inconceivable for any scheme to be applied unless it was preceded by a real and concrete plan to create additional and sufficient parking space to cater for each locality's needs.

This must be based not just on the parking requirements of residents but also on the business and tourist needs of each location, which formed an integral and equally important part of every locality.

"Only following such a thoughtful and constructive approach, matched by the necessary remedial action, can such far sweeping parking legislation ever be considered," the MHRA said.

On the impact such schemes had on businesses, the MHRA said its concerns were based on protecting the viability of many businesses, including restaurants and hotels, and respecting their fundamental right to retain free and easy access to their establishments.

It continued: "Rather than alleviating an already difficult parking situation in these crucial areas, the introduction of residents' parking zones on such a major scale will certainly worsen conditions in these areas.

"Moreover, the allocated timings for most areas are unreasonable and will definitely create problems for all motorists who need to visit a particular area for whatever reason, including visiting friends and family who reside in these same areas."

The MHRA said it hoped common sense would prevail and rather than putting the cart before the horse, "the requirements of us all as a nation will be given the importance they truly deserve".

The introduction of residential parking schemes in 19 localities across Malta and Gozo is being legally contested by a man, Joseph Borg, who claims they are discriminatory.