Il-Kumitat għat-Trasport u t-Turiżmu fil-Parlament Ewropew adotta r-rapport tal-Ewroparlamentari Daniel Attard, b’appoġġ wiesa’ minn madwar l-ispettru politiku, f’dak li hu pass importanti lejn l-ewwel strateġija Ewropea għat-turiżmu sostenibbli. Dan l-appoġġ jirrifletti l-ħidma ambizzjuża u progressiva bbażata fuq miżuri konkreti u mhux prinċipji astratti.
“Dan mhux rapport ta’ dikjarazzjonijiet ġeneriċi. Dan isejjaħ għal firxa ta’ azzjonijiet konkreti biex it-turiżmu jaħdem aħjar għall-ekonomiji, għall-ħaddiema u fuq kollox għall-komunitajiet tagħna.”
Attard enfasizza l-konnettività bħala pilastru ewlieni tar-rapport, u saħaq li aċċess ġust u affordabbli huwa kruċjali biex jiġi indirizzat l-iżbilanċ fit-turiżmu madwar l-Ewropa.
“Illum għandna realtà ċara: filwaqt li hemm destinazzjonijiet mgħobbija żżejjed, hemm oħrajn li għadhom lura. Konnettività aqwa hija ċ-ċavetta biex nqassmu l-ġid tat-turiżmu b’mod aktar ġust, inkluż lejn pajjiżi u reġjuni li sal-lum mhumiex igawdu l-benefiċċji li joffri t-turiżmu.”
Huwa enfasizza wkoll li l-kultura hija l-qalba tal-prodott turistiku Ewropew.
“Turiżmu ta’ kwalità huwa mibni fuq l-identità, il-wirt u l-awtentiċità tagħna. Dan ir-rapport isaħħaħ l-appoġġ lejn dawk li jħarsu dan il-wirt, inkluż il-voluntiera u l-komunitajiet lokali.”
Fuq l-aspett ambjentali, ir-rapport jinkludi miżuri konkreti biex jitnaqqas l-impatt tas-settur, fosthom azzjoni kontra l-plastik u fondi Ewropej għal trasport aktar nadif.
“Is-sostenibbiltà trid tkun prattika u ġusta. Mhux piż addizzjonali, iżda opportunità biex insaħħu s-settur”, sostna l-Ewroparlamentari Laburista.
Ir-rapport jagħti wkoll prijorità lill-ħaddiema, b’enfasi fuq aktar investiment fil-ħiliet, kundizzjonijiet tax-xogħol u mobilità.
F’dan il-kuntest Daniel Attard saħaq li ma nistgħux nibnu turiżmu kompetittiv mingħajr investiment fil-ħaddiema tagħna.
Ir-rapport ta’ Attard jindirizza wkoll il-ħtieġa ta’ kompetizzjoni ġusta fis-settur tal-akkomodazzjoni, b’mod partikolari fil-kuntest ta’ dawk magħrufa bħala Short Term Rentals.
“Il-kirjiet għal żmien qasir illum huma parti mill-prodott turistiku u joffru l-benefiċċji tagħhom. Iżda rridu naċċertaw li dawn jimxu ma’ regoli ċari li jipproteġu lill-komunitajiet kif ukoll is-suq tal-akkommodazzjoni, b’mod speċjali dik residenzjali. It-turiżmu għandu jaqdi u jservi l-interessi tal-komunitajiet tagħna, u mhux jisfruttahom.”
Attard temm jgħid li dan il-vot huwa frott xhur ta’ ħidma fuq livell Ewropew u xhieda ta’ bidla lejn mudell turistiku Ewropew aktar bilanċjat u sostenibbli.
TRAN Committee adopts Attard report with broad support, setting direction for Europe’s first sustainable tourism strategy
The European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism has adopted MEP Daniel Attard’s report with broad cross-party support, marking a key step towards Europe’s first strategy for sustainable tourism. The strong backing reflects the report’s ambitious and progressive approach, focused on tangible deliverables rather than abstract principles.
“This is not a report of general statements. It sets out concrete actions to make tourism work better for our economies, our workers and, above all, our communities.”
Attard highlighted connectivity as a central pillar, stressing that fair and reliable access is essential to rebalance tourism flows across Europe.
“Tourism in Europe is characterised by imbalance. Some destinations are
overwhelmed, while others remain underdeveloped. Better connectivity allows us to move beyond hotspots and spread the benefits of tourism more evenly, including to islands and peripheral regions.”
He also emphasised culture as the foundation of Europe’s tourism offer.
“Quality tourism in Europe is built on identity, heritage and authenticity. This report recognises culture as the keystone of our tourism model and strengthens support for those who preserve it, including volunteers and local communities.”
On the environmental dimension, the report includes clear deliverables to reduce the sector’s footprint, including measures to tackle waste and single-use plastics and to support cleaner transport solutions across the tourism ecosystem.
“The transition must be practical and fair. Sustainability must strengthen resilience and competitiveness, not create additional burdens.”
The report also places strong emphasis on people, with proposals to address skills shortages and improve working conditions.
“We cannot build a competitive tourism model without investing in our workforce. Upskilling, reskilling and facilitating mobility are essential to make tourism a career of choice.”
Finally, Attard underlined the need for a level playing field in the accommodation sector.
“Short-term rentals have a role to play, but they must operate within clear rules that protect communities, housing markets, and fair competition. Tourism must serve communities, not exploit them.”
Attard concluded that the vote marks an important shift towards a more balanced and forward-looking European tourism model.