MaltaToday’s James Debono wins sustainability journalism award

MaltaToday senior journalist and political analyst James Debono won the Sustainability in Journalism Award at the 2026 Sustainable Development Action Awards on Wednesday.

Having covered Malta's planning scene for decades, Debono received the award for his investigation, HOTEL MANIA, which shed a light on the rapid expansion of hotels and guesthouses across the country.

Debono won the award for his investigation 'HOTEL MANIA' (Photo: DOI)

The investigation found that, since the beginning of 2024, the Planning Authority approved 220 tourism accommodation establishments, comprising 62 hotels, and 158 guesthouses, most of which are still under construction.

The investigation also highlighted how guesthouses are spreading beyond traditional tourist hotspots and into residential areas, raising questions about the impact of tourism growth on infrastructure and residents' quality of life.

The findings of the piece ultimately led Debono to question whether Malta's expanding accommodation sector was showing the hallmarks of overtourism.

The award formed part of the second edition of the Sustainable Development Action Awards, organised by the environment ministry.