Extreme natural events, such as the severe gale experienced two weeks ago, can expose vulnerabilities with possibly serious impacts on Malta’s tourism industry.

Obliquely, mass tourism is itself listed as a hazard wherever destinations have been overrun by tourists.

At the first conference on the subject of natural hazards and tourism held in Malta last year, stakeholders were prompted to start looking at how communication could be improved through creating better partnerships.

A follow-up conference was held to consider the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders such as hospitality providers and come up with an action plan.

After flying in on the nose of the storm with colleagues that windy Saturday afternoon ahead of one of the worst storms ever to hit Malta, one of the conference organisers, Victoria Kennedy of Liverpool Hope University, described how on arrival at their Valletta hotel they found that information for guests on the developing storm was not made readily available.

Residents were aware of Civil Protection Department warnings to stay indoors in contrast to in-transit tourists, many of whom were unaware that conditions were worsening.

During the conference it was noted that the link between a number of different systems such as the CPD and the tourism industry may not be optimum.

“It was very fortunate no one was killed,” said David Chester, a senior fellow at the school of environmental sciences, Liverpool University, who was also present at the conference.

Failure of tourism operators to take necessary action to inform visitors could end in disaster and some very bad press for Malta in visitor countries.

Dr Chester has co-authored an article with the University of Malta’s geography department head John Schembri, researcher Ritienne Gauci and other academics on natural hazards in the Maltese islands.

Failure of tourism operators to take necessary action to inform visitors could end in disaster and some very bad press for Malta in visitor countries

According to the article, with Malta “witnessing swelling resident, seasonal (i.e. tourist) plus foreign-born populations and increases in the urban area” further research into hazards would contribute to disaster risk reduction.

Architect Raymond Farrugia reported that the Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure has plans for a unit focusing on coastal hazards in popular bathing zones. He said that erosion, landslides and strong waves on the coast remain a constant danger. Past fatalities had been mostly foreigners despite apparent good weather at the time. Cliffside walks after storms can be particularly dangerous.

One of the containers intended to serve as offices for contractors working on the Fortina Hotel project ended up in the hotel swimming pool in February’s severe gale (right).One of the containers intended to serve as offices for contractors working on the Fortina Hotel project ended up in the hotel swimming pool in February’s severe gale (right).

Community awareness of imminent hazards has become even more challenging due to Malta’s shift to individual Airbnb-type accommodation over the more easily controlled environment of hotel stays.

LHU professor Janet Speake, who joined the conference after giving a lecture at the University of Malta, spoke of the delicate art of “managing fear” in the context of alerting tourists to natural hazards.

Assistant commissioner of police Martin Pullicino said that distress calls from tourists or lifeguards are becoming more frequent. Some bathers ignore signs warning of treacherous currents.

During last month’s storm, some cars were seen mounting the pavement to drive around a police car purposely placed across the road to close access to the worst hit coastal areas in St Julian’s and Buġibba.

A stakeholder working in tourism and heritage in Gozo called for more security personnel to manage access to the upper parts of the citadel in high winds. Visitors have sometimes been knocked off their feet by strong gusts and required medical treatment.

Reassuringly, Malta is better prepared for early-warnings in the event of a tsunami originating to the north, thanks to the presence of sensor buoys. However, this is not the case should a high wave come from Africa or from the direction of Crete.

Looking at different categories of hazard from a sociological viewpoint, mass tourism is also viewed as a hazard to communities. For example, a rise in the cost of basic goods and rent for locals.

Prof. Speake has published a paper on how Tigné Point was “appropriated, reimagined and rescripted by architects and property developers to create high status, residential and commercial space for an affluent elite”. 

In a recent survey by the Malta Tourism Authority, tourists were asked to rate the impact overdevelopment was having on their holiday. Airbnb rentals are having an impact on hotel bookings which are down by 25 per cent this year, according to a prominent operator in the tourism industry.

Many overseas investors buy properties for short-let rental as Airbnb hosts. According to the December issue of Condé Nast Traveller, this has brought “a revolving door of travellers into previously residential buildings” around the world. 

Yet a crackdown on Airbnb rentals in Los Angeles has included restricting hosts to only renting out the home they live in for six months of the year.

Some European cities take an even dimmer view. New laws were introduced this January in Amsterdam, cutting the rental period to 30 days annually. Paris and Barcelona have taken similar measures to protect permanent residents.

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