L-MEP Daniel Attard ippreżenta r-rapport tiegħu dwar it-turiżmu sostenibbli fil-Parlament Ewropew, li ntlaqa’ tajjeb ħafna mill-gruppi politiċi kollha u mill-Kummissjoni Ewropea – turija ċara li l-prijoritajiet ta’ Malta qed jinstemgħu fi Brussell.

Ir-rapport jindirizza b’mod dirett l-isfidi u l-opportunitajiet li jiffaċċjaw il-pajjiżi u r-reġjuni insulari, fosthom Malta, partikolarment f’oqsma bħall-konnettività, il-kwalità tat-turiżmu, il-ħarsien tal-komunitajiet lokali u l-kundizzjonijiet tal-ħaddiema.

Konnettività għall-gżejjer: prijorità li ma tistax tiġi injorata

Attard saħaq li għall-pajjiżi insulari, il-konnettività mhijiex kumdità iżda kundizzjoni bażika biex l-ekonomija tibqa’ tiffunzjona. Ir-rapport jisħaq fuq:

• aktar flessibbiltà fir-regoli li jaffettwaw il-linji nazzjonali tal-ajru;
• investiment akbar fit-trasport nadif u f’servizzi marittimi essenzjali;
• protezzjoni kontra dipendenza eċċessiva fuq linji tal-ajru privati;
• u titjib fil-konnettività għall-Maltin u għat-turiżmu li fuqu tiddependi l-ekonomija.

Turiżmu bilanċjat li jirrispetta l-ambjent u l-komunitajiet

Ir-rapport jenfasizza li t-tkabbir turistiku għandu jkun kompatibbli mal-kwalità tal-ħajja, speċjalment f’pajjiżi u bliet żgħar. Għaldaqstant jinkludi proposti għal:

• regoli aktar ċari u effettivi fuq il-kirjiet għall-perjodi qosra;
• pjanar intelliġenti biex jiġu evitati pressjonijiet żejda fuq iż-żoni l-aktar popolati;
• ⁠u projbizzjoni tal-użu tal-plastics fl-industrija tat-turiżmu

Ħaddiema: taħriġ, ħiliet u kundizzjonijiet aħjar

Ir-rapport tal-Ewroparlamentari Laburista jiffoka wkoll fuq il-ħaddiema fis-settur turistiku, li fuq livell Ewropew spiss ibatu minn nuqqas ta’ taħriġ u pressjonijiet fuq il-kundizzjonijiet tax-xogħol. Fir-rapport tiegħu, Daniel Attard jipproponi:

• Strateġija Ewropea għall-‘upskilling’ u ‘reskilling’;
• Tourism Skills Card Ewropea biex tiġi rikonoxxuta l-esperjenza, tiffaċilita l-mobilità, u tipproteġi l-kundizzjonijiet tax-xogħol;
• u aktar investiment fit-taħriġ permezz tal-programmi Ewropej.

Rikonoxximent tal-voluntiera u l-wirt kulturali

Il-voluntiera li jaħdmu biex iżommu ħaj il-wirt kulturali ta’ Malta u tal-Ewropa huma ċentrali fir-rapport tal-MEP Attard. Huwa jressaq proposti għal:

• qafas Ewropew ta’ rikonoxximent u appoġġ għall-voluntiera kulturali;
• fond Ewropew għall-wirt intanġibbli,
• u appoġġ għal inizjattivi komunitarji u tradizzjonijiet lokali.

Daniel Attard tenna li r-rapport jippreżenta viżjoni Ewropea konkreta għal turiżmu aktar sostenibbli, imsejsa fuq ir-realtà ta’ pajjiżi żgħar u insulari bħal Malta.

“Dan ir-rapport huwa mibni fuq ir-realtijiet diversi tal-ibliet, il-pajjiżi, u l-ġnus Ewropej li jagħtuna l-identità unika tagħna. Ilkoll differenti iżda ilkoll bi sfidi komuni li jirrikjedu soluzzjonijiet komuni bil-għan li jkollna bilanċ bejn it-turiżmu u l-komunità, bejn l-iżvilupp ekonomiku u l-kwalità tal-ħajja.

Ir-rapport issa jgħaddi għall-passi li jmiss fil-Parlament Ewropew, u għandu jikkontribwixxi għall-istrateġija Ewropea għat-turiżmu sostenibbli li se tippubblika l-Kummissjoni Ewropea lejn nofs is-sena d-dieħla.

---

MEP Daniel Attard presents his Sustainable Tourism Report with broad cross-party support in the European Parliament

Labour MEP Daniel Attard has presented his report on sustainable tourism to the European Parliament, receiving a clear show of support from across the political groups as well as positive feedback from the European Commission – which shows that Malta’s priorities are resonating in Brussels.

The report addresses the challenges and opportunities faced by island and peripheral regions, including Malta, with a particular focus on connectivity, the quality and balance of tourism, the wellbeing of local communities, and the protection of workers in the sector.

Connectivity for island states: a priority that cannot be ignored

Attard stressed that for island countries, connectivity is not a luxury, it is the fundamental contributor to our economic wellbeing.

His report calls for:

• greater flexibility in the rules affecting national airlines, the lifelines of island economies
• stronger investment in clean transport and essential maritime services;
• safeguards against excessive dependency on private carriers;
• and improved connectivity for both Maltese citizens and the tourism economy they sustain.

Balanced tourism that respects communities and the environment

The report makes clear that tourism growth must be compatible with quality of life, especially in small states and densely populated regions.

Key proposals include:

• clearer, enforceable rules on short-term rental platforms;
• smarter planning tools to prevent excessive pressure in popular areas;
• and a legislative push to phase out plastics in the tourism ecosystem.

Workers at the centre: skills, mobility and better conditions

Attard’s report places strong emphasis on the workforce that keeps Europe’s tourism industry operating. A workforce that across the Union often faces skills shortages and pressure on working conditions.

The report proposes:

• a European agenda for upskilling and reskilling
• an EU Tourism Skills Card to recognise experience, support mobility and protect working conditions;
• and increased investment in training through EU programmes.

Recognising volunteers and protecting Europe’s cultural heritage

Volunteers who sustain Malta’s and Europe’s cultural heritage feature prominently in the report.

Attard calls for:

• a European framework to recognise and support cultural volunteers;
• a European Fund for Intangible Heritage;
• and stronger backing for community-led initiatives and local traditions.

Attard said the report presents a concrete European vision for sustainable tourism, rooted in the lived reality of small and insular states like Malta.

“This report is built on the diverse realities of Europe’s towns, cities and communities – all different, yet united by common challenges that demand common solutions. It seeks the right balance between tourism and community, and between economic development and quality of life.”

The report will now move to the next procedural steps in the European Parliament and is expected to contribute meaningfully to the European Commission’s upcoming strategy on sustainable tourism, due mid-next year.