It-turiżmu: benefiċċji biss?

 

Illum it-Tnejn, fil-Parlament ġew diskussi l-estimi tad-dħul u l-ħruġ tal-Awtorita’ Maltija tat-Turiżmu.

Bħalma aħna mdorrijin nisimgħu, sena wara l-oħra, smajna fuq records ta’ numri ta’ turisti li żaru Malta.  Matul l-2013, qalilna Edward Żammit Lewis, Ministru tat-Turiżmu, ġew f’Malta 1,500,000 turist, żieda ta’ 9.6% fuq l-2012. Dan kien ifisser nefqa ta’ biljun euro f’Malta. Dħul tajjeb għal Malta li jsostni eluf ta’ impiegi.

Ikun tajjeb ukoll iżda jekk f’diskussjoni ta’ din ix-xorta napprezzaw ukoll li t-turiżmu għandu impatt mhux żgħir fuq l-ambjent. Ras għal ras kull turist għandu impatt ambjentali 50% iktar minn residenti permanenti f’Malta.

Dan l-impatt ifisser li ras għal ras turist jikkonsma iktar ilma u iktar elettriku kuljum. Ifisser ukoll li jiġġenera iktar skart u iktar tniġġis. Ħuwa importanti li jsir sforz ikbar milli sar s’issa biex dan l-impatt jonqos.

Huwa xieraq li nirrikonoxxu li diġa saru sforzi kbar. Anke mil-lukandi infushom. Permezz tal-Malta Business Bureau u b’għajnuna mill-Unjoni Ewropeja qed jiġi indirizzat il-konsum tal-ilma. Bosta lukandi ħadu jew qed jieħdu passi. Diversi diġa naqqsu b’mod mhux żgħir il-konsum tagħhom tal-ilma. Tajjeb, għax b’inqas konsum ta’ ilma mill-industrija tat-turiżmu żdied il-qliegħ tal-industrija u tnaqqas impatt ambjentali.

Hemm bżonn inżidu l-isforz, mhux biss dwar l-ilma, iżda dwar l-oqsma l-oħra kollha ta’ impatti ambjentali.

EU elections: Business and the environment

I was present yesterday for the launch of a Business Manifesto addressed to MEP candidates. The Manifesto entitled “We’re in Business together. A Maltese Business Manifesto.”  lists the expectations of the business community. The launch was organized by the office of the European Parliament in Malta.

As expected the manifesto deals extensively on the role of business in job creation, its importance to the economy, the vulnerabilties of SMEs and the difficulties faced by Maltese Business, mostly micro-business, as a result of both its size as well as Malta’s peripherality and insularity.

The five business organisations did a good job with one exception. They were apprehensive about environmental and social issues. The business manifesto does not refer to environmental and social issues except in a negative manner. There is no valid reason for this position. The experience of Maltese business organisations (with very few exceptions) points elsewhere. It is generally a positive experience.

May I remind that the Federation of Industries, now forming part of a unified Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry had years back endorsed and adhered to the UN Global Compact. The Malta Business Bureau has embarked on a water awareness campaign, GRTU through  enterpreneur Noel Gauci (together with others) has been at the forefront of research on wave energy and its applicability to Malta to tap alternatve energy sources.

Similarly on socal issues most Maltese SMEs are good employers and it would be a misrepresentation if one were to focus on the negative comments on social issues in the Business Manifesto as being representative of Maltese Business.

Maltese Business and SMEs in particular have to view environmental and social issues not as obstacles but as challenges which can be transformed into new opportunities. Those who realise this and put it into practice will lead the way. The others will follow.