THE MINISTER OF TOURISM ADDRESSES "CARRYING CAPACITY ASSESSMENT AND FINAL PROPOSALS" SEMINAR

The Ministry of Tourism organised a seminar on the final proposals for Malta's tourism carrying capacity assessment. Carrying capacity is defined as: the maximum number of people who can simultaneously visit a tourist destination and not cause unacceptable destruction of the physical, ecological and socio-cultural environments, or unacceptable reduction in the quality of visitor-experience (or satisfaction) gained. It is thus a threshold level which if exceeded may give rise to a number of issues, amongst which are visitor dissatisfaction, loss of local hospitality, rise of conflict between local and the tourist, lower economic returns, pressures on the physical infrastructure, degradation and loss of ecological resources. In assessing tourist capacity, adequate regard must also be made to the physical and social carrying capacities of the country.

The study was commissioned by the Ministry of Tourism, which had appointed a study group representing the various fields of studies of this report. The terms of reference for the Carrying Capacity Assessment of the Maltese Islands were drawn up on the guidelines established by UNEP. The study involved extensive surveys and data collection over an eighteen month period. In June 1999, some of the main findings of the then available studies were presented.

The study has now arrived at a stage wherein a tourism development scenario is being proposed. This was the main theme of this seminar.

The proposed development scenario is based on the principle of sustainable development. Malta's physical, economic and social aspects act as the foundation for the definition of the proposed scenario.

At the seminar Ministry and Malta Tourism Authority officials presented guidelines for future tourism development, emanating from the carrying capacity study and the economic impact study findings, which was undertaken by MTA.

The scenario is one which directs tourism towards a limited growth scenario. For Malta to sustain its tourism industry, it is necessary that investment is directed towards segments wherein social and private benefits exceed social and private costs. Due to the excess supply of beds on the market, it is crucial that tourism bed stock is stabilised. Increases in visitor satisfaction levels call for an improved quality of service by all tourism service providers. The impacts arising from the seasonally characterising of the Maltese tourism industry necessitate that flows move from the peak months to other months. Heavy demands on utilities and resources are thus reduced. The management of tourist flows at sites and the presentation of attractions are crucial for visitor satisfaction and for preservation of Malta's culture. All these aspects influence the Maltese population's day-to-day life.

During the seminar, speakers highlighted the risks and wide spread implications affecting the whole nation economically, environmentally and socially if we fail to carefully develop the industry in line with the proposed growth scenario.

The Minister for Tourism, the Hon. Michael Refalo, concluded the seminar and attached are the Minister's speech notes.

PUNTI MID-DISKORS TAL-MINISTRU GHAT-TURIZMU, L-ONOR. M.A. REFALO, WAQT IL-"CARRYING CAPACITY ASSESSMENT SEMINAR" FIL-VICTORIA HOTEL, SLIEMA

L-industrija tat-turizmu hi centrali ghall-izvilupp, ghall-hajja u l-mixja ekonomika tal-Gzejjer Maltin.

Mhuwiex biss dak li johrog mill-istatistika li jwassal messagg car dwar l-importanza strategika tat-turizmu u l-htiega li kulhadd jahdem b'risq is-success tieghu, izda hi wkoll l-opinjoni tal-maggoranza kbira ta' Maltin u Ghawdxin. Kulhadd ghandu rwol biex ikompli jizgura t-tkabbir u t-tishih tas-success ta' settur li minnu jgawdi kulhadd.

Izda bejn success li jkompli miexi l-bidu ta' nizla 'l isfel tezisti linja fina. L-istudju dwar il-carrying capacity li ghadna kemm smajna kif sar, kif ittella u r-rizultati li johorgu minnu, hu ghodda essenzjali li tipprovdi linja gwida ghat-tfassil tal-politika turistika in generali u ghal policies settorali u specifici. Ghodda wkoll li tghinna niddeciedu miri, ghanijiet, kif ukoll livelli mixtieqa jew maghzula.

Il-Gzejjer Maltin mhumiex tal-lastiku. Ghandhom kejl definit u mhux aktar. Dan il-fattur uhud jarawh debbolezza u x'kiel waqt ohrajn opportunita' u fattur posittiv. Hu x'inhu, dan hu fattur li kull min mghobbi bir-responsabbilta' tal-ippjanar irid izomm dejjem f'mohhu u jdahhal fil-kalkoli tieghu.

Fattur iehor centrali f'kull kejl u f'kull ezercizzju ta' l-ippjanar hu d-densita' tal-popolazzjoni Maltija li tghix fis-superfici ckejkna tal-Gzejjer Maltin.

Meta ma' dawn tghodd medja ta' madwar 35,000 turist kuljum, li fix-xhur tas-sajf tilhaq massimu ta' 55,000, johrog li l-popolazzjoni f'Malta tizdied bejn it-8% u t-12%. Izda meta tikkonsidra wkoll li din iz-zieda tikkoncentra l-aktar f'zoni partikolari, minn semplici zieda twassal ghall-esplozjoni qawwija tal-popolazzjoni f'certi lokalitajiet.

Mhux biss l-infrastruttura nazzjonali u l-aktar dik fl-inhawi maghrufa b'zoni turistici jrid ikollha l-kapacita' terfa' l-piz ta' zieda ta' eluf ta' residenti godda, izda jehtieg li nizguraw li ma ssirx hsara lin-nisga socjali kif ukoll ghall-ambjenti naturali u dak mibni mill-bniedem.

L-ghazla li ghamilna snin ilu li nizvilupaw it-turizmu b'mod sostenibbli kienet wahda ghaqlija. Irrid nghid li l-gerhiet li saru u l-izbalji kommessi fl-imghoddi meta hadd ma kien jaghti hsieb, kaz u wisq inqas kejl ghall-fattur ambjentali f'dawn l-ahhar snin naqsu hafna.

Izda issa wasalna fi zmien meta se jkollna ta' bilfors inkomplu ndejqu l-lembut, biex lukandi u stabbilimenti ta' akkomodazzjoni godda f'pajjizna jkunu dawn li tassew l-industrija ghandha bzonn, li jkunu dawk li qed ifittxu t-turisti ta' llum, ikunu dawk li fiz-zminijiet ta' llum l-investiment li jsir fihom tassew jirrendi.

Hemm hafna ragunijiet ekonomici li jzommna lura milli ndejqu l-lembut kif ukoll socjali, ambjentali kif ukoll ekonomici jekk thares minn perspettiva ohra, li nimblukkawh ghal kollox. Izda fil-mizien u l-kejl tal-hsieb nahseb li ghandna ragun intendu lejn zidiet bil-qies fejn tassew huma bzonnjuzi u lejn it-tishih kontinwu tas-settur.

Jekk immorru ftit lura fiz-zmien u nharsu biss lejn l-istatistika li ghadha kemm giet ippubblikata l-gimgha li ghaddiet insibu li mill-1994 sal-1999 it-total ta' sodod f'lukandi u postijiet ohra ta' akkommodazzjoni, eskluzi appartamenti, zdied minn ftit taht l-38,000 ghal kwazi 41,000.

Ezami aktar akkurat juri li minn dawn it-3,000 sodda gdida 1,700 minnhom kienu f'lukandi ta' 5 Stilel. 1,000 ohra f'lukandi ta' 4 Stilel, 600 f'kumplessi / aparthotels mentri s-sodod mill-kategorija 3 Stilel u inqas naqsu bi 300. Dan ifisser li sar titjieb fil-faxx l-gholi tal-qasam ta' l-akkommodazzjoni filwaqt li sidien ta' lukandi izghar u inqas haddmu rashom u bhalissa qed jutilizzaw il-propjetajiet taghhom f'negozju aktar reditizzju.

Dan kollu ma garax bil-kumbinazzjonijiet. Ghamlu effett il-forzi tas-suq daqskemm ghamlu effett ukoll il-policies ristrettivi li kien fis-sehh ghal bidu tas-snin disghin.

Dan hu moviment li ser ikollu jibqa' ghaddej. Min mhux lest jew ma jistax itejjeb il-prodott tieghu jaghmel sewwa li jahseb kif l-ahjar jikkapitalizza mill-assi li ghandu f'kamp iehor.

Ser jasal zmien, mhux 'il boghod, li ma jkunx jista' jikkompeti. Ma jkunx jista' jbiegh is-sodod bi prezz vijabbli. Sew il-kompetizzjoni kif ukoll il-prezz mhumiex dettati biss mill-qaghda f'Malta izda mill-qaghda f'destinazzjonijiet turistici kompetituri diretti li huma taghna. Ir-rohs tal-prezz hu importanti izda spicca z-zmien li l-prezz jiddetermina l-ghazla.

Dan l-ahhar l-Awtorita' ghamlet studju ta' dan il-qasam li nifhem li ghal dak li ghandu x'jaqsam ma lukandi specifici ghandu jkun accessibbli ghas-sidien tal-lukanda.

Fl-istess hin il-Ministeru hejja pakkett ta' incentivi dwar training u management li jservu wkoll ghat-tmexxija ahjar ta' dawn il-kategoriji. Dawn jigu inkluzi fir-Regolamenti li johorgu taht il-ligi gdida, il-Business PromotionAct, li trid titressaq ghad-diskussjoni fil-Parlament.

Iz-zmien tal-handouts ghal bini ta' lukandi spicca. Ma jidhrilniex li ghad hemm lok li niffacilitaw u naghtu sussidji ghal bini ta' lukandi godda. Min-naha l-ohra l-pakkett ta' sussidji jahseb sabiex ighin fir-refurbishment ta' lukandi esistenti, jinkoraggixxi l-bini ta' attrazzjonijiet ta' xejra kulturali u sportiva biex niddiversifikaw u nwessghu l-ghazla u l-kwalita' tal-prodott, u jghin fit-tharrig tal-personal biex b'hekk s-settur turistiku ta' Malta u Ghawdex ikun moghni b'nies aktar professjonali u kapaci biex nilhqu ghall-htigijiet ta' generazzjoni ta' turisti aktar esigenti u izjed mdorrija fl-ivvjaggar.

Li jkollna prodott tajjeb hu importanti izda ma jfissirx li bih biss ser jimtlew il-lukandi. La qed nirriferi ghall-marketing u l-promozzjoni ta' Malta u lanqas ghal titjieb fl-infrastruttura u l-prodott. Dawn jiddependu minna. Izda hemm haga ohra li ma tiddependi minna xejn. Il-qaghda ekonomika fil-pajjizi li minnhom jigu t-turisti.

Bhalissa l-affarijiet ma jidhrux hziena. Izda hadd ma jista' jbassar il-gejjieni b'certezza. Ghalhekk ukoll l-offerta Maltija trid tkun bilancjata u kemm jista' jkun taqbel mad-domanda.

Dan l-istudju jpoggi quddiemna ghadd ta' domandi li jehtigilhom twegiba. Per ezempju ghandna nkomplu nizviluppaw ghat-turizmu fejn diga` hemm zvilupp qawwi u b'hekk intaqqlu l-pis fuq l-infrastruttura? Jew ghandna nfittxu lokalitajiet ohra?

Ghall-liema kwalita` ta' turizmu ghandna nimmiraw? Kif ser ingibu aktar turisti fix-xitwa? Kif ser inzidu d-dhul ras ghal ras? X'valur mizjud nistghu noffru biex naghtu aktar sodisfazzjon li min jigi jzurna u nhajjruh jerga' jigi?

Veru li l-ishubija ta' Malta fl-Unjoni Ewropea taghti spinta kbira, bhal qatt qabel, ghall-industrija tat-turizmu, izda ser ikollna bizzejjed personal biex jaqdu l-htigijiet tal-lukandi esistenti u li telghin?

Jien konvint li dwar dan kollu u mistoqsijiet ohra kull wiehed minna ghandu l-fehma tieghu.

Diskussjonijiet bhal ta' llum ighinuna naslu ghal decizjonijiet ghaqlin anke jekk xi drabi riskjuzi u mhux facli. Izda meta ffaccati bir-rizultati ta' studju xjentifiku ma nistghux inkomplu nitkellmu dwar x'jahseb wiehed u x'jahseb l-iehor izda biss dwar il-fatti li johorgu mill-istudju.