It is counter-productive to attract more tourists in peak season when they are rushed through crowded museums, and have to cope with chaotic roads, long waits for crowded buses and packed beaches, Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar said.

In a statement giving its reaction to the planning authority’s review of the Height Limitation Adjustment Policy for Hotels in Tourism Areas, it said that getting more tourists in peak season contradicted the past focus on boosting low-season quality tourism to ensure year-round employment in the industry.

The policy to increase the height of hotels is being extended across all Malta and Gozo, with the exception of urban conservation areas(UCA), outside development zones (ODZ) and ridge edge sites.

FAA said this extension was recommended by a committee made up solely of authority officials and tourist industry operators claiming that their hotels were uncompetitive due to size limitations.

“This begs the question of how the top resorts in the Mediterranean like Taormina are so successful while maintaining a low-rise hotel profile,” FAA said.

“While the provision of conference facilities requires one or two additional floors, the MEPA document proposes an unlimited number of additional floors for four/five star hotels. Urban jungles and more cranes, noise and dirt do not attract tourists to Malta; it is better quality hotels and services, upgrading of tourism areas and year-round cultural activities that are needed – all measures that accommodate tourists while respecting residents.”

Echoing the stand taken by the Chamber of Architects, FAA raised the question of discrimination in favour of one sector of the industry. Within months of its launch, the original scheme limited to four/five star hotels in tourist areas was extended to three star hotels all over Malta and Gozo.

“Owners of aparthotels, guesthouses and even tourist villas are now demanding to add floors, while developers are asking why offices and shops are being denied this privilege. A Pandora’s Box is being opened, and just as the scheme has already been extended, the authorities could cave in to other sectors of the economy,” FAA said.

It noted that although the scheme excluded hotels in ODZs or UCAs, since these areas lacked a buffer zone, high-rise hotels would inevitably impact adjacent ODZ coastline areas or UCAs, as happened at Balluta and Spinola.

“Places like Marsaxlokk and Gozo are set to lose the very character that draws tourists to our islands. What has become of Eco-Gozo,” FAA asked noting that political parties had agreed on one thing - that residents do not count.