Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544495
6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 MARCH 2022 OPINION 2 maltatoday EXECUTIVE EDITOR KURT SANSONE ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt Letters to the Editor, MaltaToday, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 E-mail: dailynews@mediatoday.com.mt Letters must be concise, no pen names accepted, include full name and address maltatoday | SUNDAY • 19 ARPIL 2026 Thumbs up to Ian Borg but success of new tourism rules hinges on enforcement Editorial THE new tourist accommodation rules are a wel- come development. Finally, after years of unbri- dled growth in the sector, the new rules will lay down the parameters for the start of a shift to qual- ity tourism. Tourism Minister Ian Borg has truly delivered on his word without getting bogged down in a nev- er-ending consultation process. In seven months— the new rules will come into force in June 2026— he would have gone from consultation process to implementation. The swift-ness is a breath of fresh air when compared to some reforms in other sec- tors that have stalled. One of the proposed reforms is the reversal of the planning policy introduced by the Labour govern- ment in 2014 allowing hotels to add two additional floors above local plan limita-tions. Changing a planning policy requires a lengthy pe- riod that involves multiple consultation pro-cesses along the way. But in comments to MaltaToday, the ministry said it would circum-vent this lengthy process and instead instruct the Malta Tourism Authority to no longer issue clearance for hotels that rise higher than the local plan thresholds. The MTA's clearance is needed by the Planning Au- thority. In typical Ian Borg fashion, this ensures no time is wasted in implementing this particular aspect of the new rules. However, this leader hopes that at the same time, the government kicks off the neces- sary administrative and legal processes to change the planning policy permanently. Another aspect of the rules that encourages a shift to quality tourism is the policy change to stop issuing licences for one- and two-star hotels, all-inclusive resorts and introducing cap-ping lim- its on beds for new hotels. But, from a community perspective, what is pos- sibly the most important aspect is the regu-lation of short-let rental properties. This is a growing aspect of Malta's tourism product, which over the years has proven to be one of the most damaging to residential communi-ties. From overcrowded apartments to dismal waste management and lack of clarity who should be regulating the sector, the short-let phenomenon has ravaged some communities. Swieqi is the classic example of a locality having to deal with the problems caused by short-let tour- ists. But it is not the only town. Short-let apart- ments have proliferated in different areas. Swieqi's problems may have been made worse by the fact that its proximity to Pace-ville attracted younger and unruly party goers. However, problems associated with waste man- agement and increased pressure on public infra- structure were felt in other localities as well. The government has woken up to the reality that this sub-sector of the tourism industry cannot be allowed to function with no rules. It appears that Borg understood the concerns and decided to act on the plight of residents. Under the new rules, owners of short-term rent- als will now be required to affix a sign out-side the property entrance, including their licence number, name, and contact number which must be availa- ble 24/7. Accommodation will be capped at a max- imum of 10 people in each property, or two per bedroom. They will also be required to submit and imple- ment an efficient waste-collection manage-ment plan which must be presented to the Malta Tour- ism Authority. Air conditioners will be mandatory, while sofa beds and underground rooms have been prohibited. Owners caught operating short-term rentals without a valid MTA licence will be liable to a three-year disqualification among additional pen- alties and any property which does not ful-fil the requirements will not be licensed. These rules are important because they pro- vide clarity above anything else. Neighbours, who are being inconvenienced by tourists in short-let apartments will have a contact num-ber of the owner that should be available 24/7. And in the absence of any action being tak-en by the owner, it is now clear more than ever that the next port of call will be the MTA. Where this leader remains sceptical, unless prov- en otherwise, is whether these rules will be en- forced. To this end, the MTA must be given the necessary resources to ensure compli-ance by op- erators is immediate and enforcement is effective. We do not want to end up in a situation, months down the line, with the MTA defending its lack of enforcement on the basis that there are too many short-let rentals and hostels to cope with. The introduction of new rules by legal notice is an important first step but it shouldn't be the last. The success or otherwise of Borg's commitment to improve the tourism product, while minimising the nuisance to residential communities depends on the concrete actions that come after the rules become law. We hope the minister shows the same resolve then as he has done thus far. Quote of the Week "Malta should move away from a system that views animals as property, and towards a paradigm shift, which views humans as guardians instead of owners." - Darryl Grima, founder of Vuċi għall-Annimali at the national conference on animals organised by his organisation. MaltaToday 10 years ago Mizzi declared €37,500 rental income since 2013 20 April 2016 ENERGY Minister Konrad Mizzi has declared just over €37,500 in rental income over 2013 and 2014, according to tax returns provided to MaltaToday on request to the House of Repre- sentatives. The information was requested in light of Miz- zi's statements since admitting in February that he owned an offshore company in Panama and an offshore trust in New Zealand. Mizzi had said the structure was intended as a family trust for assets and investment, and pro- spective investments include the leveraging of his property in London. Mizzi had also said his trustees, Orion Trust New Zealand, would manage "future invest- ments which will seek to attain a reasonable re- turn for the beneficiaries". But Mizzi yesterday refused to tell MaltaToday the address of his UK property, sought in a bid to ascertain its value. "Minister Mizzi pays due taxes both in the UK and Malta. His tax statements have already been made public in the media." [...]