L-Ewroparlamentari Daniel Attard organizza avveniment ta’ livell għoli fil-Parlament Ewropew bit-tema Europe for Tourism – Tourism for Europe, li ġabar flimkien politiċi, mexxejja tal-industrija u rappreżentanti tal-istituzzjonijiet Ewropej f’mument kruċjali għas-settur. L-avveniment kien ko-ospitat mal-MEP Nikolina Brnjac u sar b’kollaborazzjoni mal-European Travel Commission, filwaqt li kien indirizzat ukoll mill-Kummissarju Ewropew Apostolos Tzitzikostas.
Attard qed imexxi x-xogħol tal-Parlament Ewropew li se jikkontribwixxi għall-ewwel strateġija Ewropea għat-turiżmu sostenibbli. Dan l-avveniment kien parti minn sensiela ta’ laqgħat li kellu ma’ stakeholders tat-turiżmu u mal-Kummissjoni Ewropea, bil-għan li jissawwar mudell ta’ turiżmu li jkun kompetittiv, soċjalment ġust u responsabbli lejn l-ambjent ta’ madwarna.
Fid-diskors tiegħu, Attard enfasizza li s-saħħa tal-Ewropa fit-turiżmu tinsab fil-kwalità, fl-awtentiċità u fil-fiduċja ta’ dawk li jżuruna. Saħaq li l-problema ewlenija hija l-iżbilanċ: b’reġjuni li qed ibatu minn pressjoni żejda u oħrajn li għadhom esklużi mill-benefiċċji tat-turiżmu, ħafna drabi minħabba nuqqas ta’ konnettività adegwata. Il-konnettività għalhekk hija ċ-ċavetta biex jintlaħaq bilanċ ġust, speċjalment għal pajjiżi u reġjuni insulari, u biex is-sostenibbiltà ma tkunx biss ambjentali imma anke ekonomika u soċjali.
F’dan il-kuntest, Daniel Attard indirizza wkoll id-dimensjoni soċjali tat-turiżmu, fejn għamel enfasi fuq aktar investiment fil-ħiliet, fil-kundizzjonijiet tax-xogħol, u fil-mobilità tal-ħaddiema. L-Ewroparlamentari Laburista tkellem ukoll fuq ir-rwol kruċjali tal-voluntiera li jżommu ħaj il-wirt kulturali Ewropew, u saħaq li dawn għandhom jiġu rikonoxxuti għall-kontribut kbir tagħhom lejn turiżmu ta’ kwalità.
“L-Ewropa għandha timxi minn politika reattiva lejn viżjoni ċara u fit-tul favur turiżmu b’saħħtu li minnu jgawdi kulħadd, b’mod speċjali l-komunitajiet u l-ħaddiema.”
Fil-ġimgħat li ġejjin il-Parlament Ewropew se jkun qed jivvota fuq ir-rapport ta’ Daniel Attard, li se jwassal għall-ewwel strateġija Ewropea għat-turiżmu sostenibbli.
Daniel Attard hosts high-level event at the European Parliament as work advances on Europe’s first sustainable tourism strategy
MEP Daniel Attard hosted a high-level event at the European Parliament under the theme Europe for Tourism – Tourism for Europe, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders and representatives of the European institutions at a pivotal moment for the sector. The event was co-hosted with MEP Nikolina Brnjac in collaboration with the European Travel Commission and was also addressed by European Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas.
Attard is leading the European Parliament’s work that will contribute to the first European strategy for sustainable tourism. The event formed part of a broader series of meetings he has held with tourism stakeholders and the European Commission, aimed at shaping a tourism model that is competitive, socially fair and environmentally responsible.
In his address, Attard stressed that Europe’s strength in tourism lies in quality, authenticity and the trust of those who visit us. He underlined that the core challenge is imbalance: some regions are under excessive pressure while others remain excluded from tourism’s benefits, often due to inadequate connectivity. Connectivity, he noted, is therefore key to achieving a fair balance, particularly for island countries and regions, and to ensuring that sustainability is not only environmental but also economic and social.
Within this context, Daniel Attard also highlighted the social dimension of tourism, calling for greater investment in skills, working conditions and worker mobility. The Labour MEP also spoke about the crucial role of volunteers who keep Europe’s cultural heritage alive, stressing that their contribution to quality tourism deserves proper recognition.
“Europe must move from reactive policymaking to a clear, long-term vision for a strong tourism model that benefits everyone, especially communities and workers.”
In the coming weeks, the European Parliament will vote on Daniel Attard’s report, which will feed into Europe’s first sustainable tourism strategy.