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INTERNATIONAL ECOTOURISM YEAR CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE APPOINTED
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26/07/2001
26/07/2001
| Minister for Tourism Michael Refalo this morning presented and | introduced the members of the committee which will coordinate activities throughout 2002 on the occasion of International Tourism Year to the media. |
| Ecotourism activities have been expanding rapidly | over the past two decades and the United Nations, recognising the global importance of ecotourism, has designated 2002 as the International Year of Ecotourism. The World Tourism Organisation (WTO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will take the leading role in the preparation and coordination of these activities. |
| The UN Commission on sustainable development | requested international agencies, governments and the private to undertake supportive activities. "This," said the Minister, "is Malta’s answer to that call." |
| Minister Refalo said that following his submission in | late March of a Memo on the subject, Cabinet decided that "Government and Government statutory bodies and agencies should participate throughout 2002 in a sustained programme of activities in support of ecotourism and also that all branches of Government administration and all statutory bodies within their remit and area of responsibility should be sensitised to actively support the initiative." |
| The Ministry of Tourism was entrusted with the | organization and co-ordinating of this year long programme of activities. |
| Prior to the setting up of an action committee | composed of representatives from all Ministries to work on a programme of implementation throughout 2002, the Minister said that he had appointed a coordinating committee of persons from many walks of life and interests specifically to discuss and decide on the thrust for this year of activities. |
| The Minister added that Cabinet had generally agreed | to an outline of the proposed Ecotourism Year progamme. |
| With the exception of the two Malta Tourism Authority | representatives, all those who sit on the committee do so in their personal capacity. |
| The Joint Chairmen of the Coordinating Committee are | Mr. Winston Zahra, nominated by the Minister for Tourism, while the Minister for the Environment has nominated Mr. Martin Scicluna. The Action Committee will be chaired by Mr. Zahra, with Mr. Scicluna as Deputy Chairman. |
| The other members of the Co-ordinating Committee are | Mr. Vincent Attard, Mr. Jeffrey Cutajar, Mr. Dunstan Hamilton, Ms. Pamela Hansen, Mr. George Micallef, Dr. Adriana Vella, and Dr. Nicholas Vella, while Mr. Frank Pisani will act as secretary to both Committees. |
| "We will not change the face of Malta in twelve | months, but I believe that a sustained, year long programme will go a long way to drive the message home. |
| Now that Government has endorsed this Ministry’s | view that tourism development should respect the principles of sustainability, we are putting this belief into practice. While the Malta Tourism Authority promotes interest in ecotourism products and the enhancement of heritage sites and landscaping, dedicating expertise and some of the MTA’s meagre resources towards that objective, my Ministry has been charged with the major task of coordinating government’s programme in this regard. |
| Our message is simple. People choose Malta for their | holidays mainly because we are different. Our culture is different, our traditions are different, our society and way of life are different. We must keep them that way, preserve them and enhance them. We must not ruin what visitors come to Malta and Gozo to see and enjoy. |
| We may be too late to catch the minds of those who | have never given a thought to the environment, to environmental concerns and to ecotourism." |
| "But I believe that the vast majority of Maltese | especially the younger generations, realise and fully understand that protecting the environment is tantamount to protecting one’s own quality of life, and that the protection of our natural and cultural heritage, our language, our customs, flora, fauna, habitats, traditions and our way of life means the protection and strengthening our national identity. |
| Our task is to ensure that we bequeath to future | generations of Maltese the opportunity to enjoy the good things we have. And that our visitors today and in the future will also enjoy a unique and distinct experience during their stay among us." |
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