Is tourism pressure on the environment increasing?

Malta's tourism industry has an important economic role, but it nevertheless involves significant environmental impacts, arising from increased coastal and rural development, pressure on beaches and archaeological sites, and increased road traffic, noise and waste production.

Tourist numbers increased by 10.6 per cent between 2006 and 2007; however, this has been accompanied by a decrease in average length of stay from 9.5 to 8.9 days. Nonetheless, the increase in tourist numbers compensated for this and resulted in an increase in total nights spent in Malta of 3.4 per cent in 2007 over the previous year.(1)

The even distribution of tourists throughout the year remains a challenge for Malta's tourism sector, as there is still almost double the number of tourists in Malta on an average day during the August peak season compared to the other months. Between 2006 and 2007 there was a 6.7 per cent increase in daily tourists in August, compared to the decrease between 2005 and 2006. In addition, in 2006, 57 per cent of foreign students attending English language schools visited Malta in summer, representing 5.9 per cent of total tourists in that year, up slightly from 5.3 per cent in 2006.(2)

Source: National Statistics Office

Environmental tip: As a tourist try to minimise on your use of water and energy, and your waste production.

(1) NSO (National Statistics Office). 2008. Departing tourists: December 2007, News Release No. 13/2008, January 28, 2008.

(2) NSO (National Statistics Office). 2008. Teaching English to Foreigners: 2006, News Release No. 6/2008, January 15, 2008.