L-Ewroparlamentari Laburista Daniel Attard, li huwa n-negozjatur ewlieni tal-Parlament Ewropew fuq it-Turiżmu Sostenibbli, kellu laqgħat ma’ Roberto Gualtieri, is-Sindku ta’ Ruma, u ma’ Sofyan Mbarki, il-Viċi Sindku ta’ Amsterdam.
Id-diskussjonijiet iffukaw fuq l-isfidi komuni u l-opportunitajiet li qed jiffaċċjaw l-ibliet Ewropej, fosthom il-pressjoni fuq is-suq tal-proprjetà, l-immaniġġjar tax-‘short-term rentals’, u l-bżonn ta’ aktar investiment fil-konnettività u fil-preservazzjoni kulturali.
Attard qal li l-laqgħat kienu intiżi biex jisma’ direttament dwar l-isfidi li jiltaqgħu magħhom, imma wkoll dwar l-aqwa prattiċi li jistgħu jispiraw soluzzjonijiet komuni fil-livell Ewropew.
Huwa tenna li t-turiżmu sostenibbli għandu jkun ibbażat fuq il-ħarsien kulturali, it-tisħiħ tal-komunitajiet u l-investiment fil-konnettività.
F’dan il-kuntest, Attard sostna li l-Unjoni Ewropea għandha tirrikonoxxi l-konnettività bħala servizz essenzjali, biex tiżgura aċċess li jkun affordabbli u sostenibbli madwar ir-reġjuni kollha, b’mod partikolari għal gżejjer u żoni periferali, biex b’hekk ikun hemm tkabbir ekonomiku bilanċjat u opportunitajiet ugwali għal kulħadd.
“It-turiżmu jista’ jkun verament sostenibbli jekk jaħdem għall-kulħadd, mhux għall-ibliet ewlenin u għall-profitti biss.”
Fir-rigward tal-akkomodazzjonijiet għal żmien qasir (STRs), Daniel Attard tkellem fuq il-ħtieġa li l-pjattaformi diġitali josservaw ir-regoli nazzjonali u lokali, jikkoperaw mal-awtoritajiet, u jagħtu kontribut ġust lejn il-komunitajiet li joperaw fihom.
Attard kien akkumpanjat minn delegazzjoni mill-Partit Laburista, li kkonfermat mill-ġdid l-impenn ta’ Malta li taħdem flimkien ma’ msieħba progressivi Ewropej favur viżjoni komuni ta’ tkabbir sostenibbli mibnija fuq il-kultura, il-konnettività u l-komunità.
MEP Daniel Attard meets the Mayor of Rome and the Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam to discuss Europe’s vision for sustainable tourism
Labour MEP Daniel Attard, the European Parliament’s rapporteur on Sustainable Tourism, held meetings with Roberto Gualtieri, Mayor of Rome, and Sofyan Mbarki, Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam.
The discussions focused on the common challenges and opportunities facing European cities, including pressure on housing, the management of short-term rentals, and the need for greater investment in connectivity and cultural preservation.
Attard said the meetings were intended to listen directly to the challenges faced by city leaders, but also to learn from their best practices that can inspire shared European solutions.
He underlined that sustainable tourism must be built on cultural preservation, stronger communities, and investment in connectivity.
In this context, Attard stressed that the European Union should recognise connectivity as an essential service, ensuring affordable and sustainable access across all regions, particularly for islands and peripheral areas, to guarantee balanced economic growth and equal opportunities for all.
“Tourism can only be truly sustainable if it works for everyone, not only for major cities or for profit,” Attard stated.
On the regulation of short-term rentals, Attard spoke about the need for digital platforms to comply with national and local rules, cooperate with authorities, and contribute fairly to the communities in which they operate.
Attard was accompanied by a delegation from the Labour Party, reaffirming Malta’s commitment to work with progressive European partners towards a shared vision of sustainable growth built on culture, connectivity, and community.