It bewilders me how the MTA chairman in his testimony with regard to the Mistra case was reported as stating that the MTA bases its recommendations solely on tourism policy and does not go into environmental considerations.

How short-sighted and naïve is such reasoning? How can tourism and environment be separated?

Maybe the chairman needs to be reminded that Brand Malta was based on heritage, diversity and hospitality. So heritage with all its resources including the environment is important and its protection is, therefore, a concern for the tourism industry. Secondly, tourism policy as formulated by the then Ministry of Tourism and Culture in 2007 specifically states that tourism development should not lead to loss of environmental resources.

So yes, Mr Chairman, the environment is a concern to tourism in all its facets and not just when it is convenient to the tourism industry. Such short-sighted thinking does not augur well for the sustainable development of this sector.

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