Sant jiġbed l-attenzjoni fuq il-limitu massimu tan-numru ta’ viżitaturi fin-nofsinhar ta’ Franza

Fiż-żona ta’ Marsilja kif ukoll f’postijiet oħra fin-nofsinhar ta’ Franza, ġew stabbiliti prattiki sostenibbli biex jillimitaw in-numru ta’ viżitaturi f’ċerti postijiet. Il-limiti ġew stabbiliti fuq kemm nies jistgħu jżuru f’ġurnata siti ta’ sbuħija naturali. L-eks Prim Ministru Alfred Sant saħaq dwar dan l-iżvilupp f’“The Malta Independent”.

“Jidher li qaliet dejqa, magħrufa bħala “calanques”, ta’ sbuħija eċċezzjonali qed jitqagħbru bil-kbir”, innota Sant. Barra minn hekk, bajjiet żgħar bir-ramel ġew imniġġsa u l-inħawi naturali inkluż il-garrigue li jmissu mal-“calanques” qed jinqerdu. Din il-ħsara seħħet b’riżultat ta’ wisq viżitaturi. Mill-eluf kuljum li kienu jżuru, issa ftit mijiet se jitħallew jinżlu sal-qiegħ tal-“calanques”.

L-Ewroparlamentari Laburista stqarr li din il-miżura tikkuntrasta ma’ dak li qed jiġri fil-Gżejjer Maltin, b’mod partikolari fid-dawl tal-kontroversja li ġġenerat is-sitwazzjoni ta’ Kemmuna.

Sant irrimarka li sakemm ma tiddaħħalx xi politika tal-kwoti simili għal x’qed jagħmlu fi Franza, l-ideat kollha li jissemmew dwar l-iżvilupp ta’ turiżmu ta’ kwalità fil-Gżejjer Maltin se jibqgħu vojta.

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Sant highlights the capping of visitor numbers in the south of France

In the Marseille area as well as in other places in southern France, sustainable practices have been set in place to limit the number of visitors in certain locations. The limits have been established on how many people can visit in a day sites of natural beauty. This development was highlighted by former Prime Minister Alfred Sant in “The Malta Independent”.

“Apparently great damage is being caused to the narrow, extremely picturesque creeks known as calanques”, Sant noted. Besides, small sandy beaches have become polluted and the natural surroundings including the garrigue that border the calanques are being destroyed. This damage occurred as a result of too many visitors. From the thousands that used to visit daily, only few hundreds are now being allowed to descend to the bottom of the calanques.

In parallel, the Labour MEP stated that the measure contrasts with what is happening in the Maltese Islands, in particular in view of the controversy that the situation of Comino has generated. 

Sant remarked that unless some quota system similar to the one adopted in France is introduced, all ideas about the development of quality tourism in the Maltese Islands will remain hollow dreams.