ADPD urges immediate action to address overtourism in Malta

The government must take immediate action to address excessive tourism before it is too late, ADPD–The Green Party said, warning that Malta cannot sustain further unchecked growth.

In a statement issued on Saturday, ADPD Chairperson Sandra Gauci said overtourism was placing mounting pressure on infrastructure, local services such as waste management, and the construction industry.

Gauci said these problems were worsening from one year to the next, warning that allowing tourism to grow at an excessive pace had eroded its benefits and exacerbated its negative impacts.

ADPD said Malta’s beaches were also suffering because infrastructure had failed to keep pace with the country’s consistently growing population, resulting in sewage entering the sea on several occasions.

The party pointed to the closure of several beaches in recent weeks, including those in Birżebbuġa, Qui-Si-Sana in Sliema, and il-Bajja tal-Għażżelin in St Paul’s Bay.

“We are witnessing the consequences of all this,” Gauci said. “All one needs to do is have a good look around them.”

ADPD said the effects of overtourism were also being felt in the construction industry through the development of more hotels and the speculative conversion of residential properties into short-term rentals.

“This is being felt in some areas more than others, and there is a need for the relevant authorities to control this so that residents’ needs come first,” Gauci said.

The party also referred to a recent New York Post report which described Malta as a “cram-jammed vacation destination”, shortly after Malta International Airport announced direct flights from New York.

A separate report by BookRetreats identified Malta as Europe’s most tourist-dense country.

ADPD added that the Malta International Airport CEO had already warned the authorities about increasingly long passenger queues following the introduction of new EU security measures.

The party concluded that Malta should seek to reduce tourist numbers and shift its focus towards attracting higher-quality tourism, while ensuring full respect for residents and their needs.