A Triple Bottom Line Analysis of Malta Essay

1.Introduction The state of Malta is located in the Mediterranean Sea. It is an independent earth, which includes the islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino, covering an argona of 316 squ be kilometres. The Republic of Malta has a commonwealth of 417,617 (National Statistics, Demographic Review 2010) most of who live on the island of Malta. Appendix 1 shows that touristry in Malta started to mother in the late 1960s with visitor come ins racket increasing from 47,804 in 1965 to 334,519 by 1975. By 1980 visitors numbers were up to 728,732, with the tourism industry aimed at attracting the vision market. (Lockhart, 1997)The latest tourist numbers stand at 1.3 zillion. (National Statistics, Tourist Departures, 2010) As with many Mediterranean islands Maltas tourism has been historically focused on mass tourism, sun, sea and sand package holidays resulting in the neglect of historical cultural and environmental impacts. (Dodds, 2007) The rapid knowledge of tourism in Malta combined with the high number of seasonal visitors has lead to number of impacts. These impacts can be accessed using the triple bottom line approach developed by John Elkington in rootage to the economic, social and environmental impacts. (Elkington, 1997)2.Issues When identifying the unfreezes that Malta is facing, the principles of the Cape Town Declaration, Agenda 21 and the context of Responsible Tourism stomach been used as point of reference as substantially as a number of authorised reports, including the State of the Environment Reports (2002, 1998 and 2005 and Maltas National Report to the World Summit on Sustainable culture (2002). On the basis of this research the following issues have been identified.2.1Economic Issues2.1.1Pressure on the island infrastructure The rapid development of the tourism industry in Malta has resulted in insufficient consideration and planning being given to the countrys infrastructure. Malta is a small island, yet its infrastructure, as previousl y mentioned now has to support its own population and the 1.3 million tourists. Despite the growing numbers of tourists, inadequate investment into the countrys infrastructure is still non in place. This is a common issue in many resorts infrastructures are unable to cope with the zeal of tourist visitation at top out periods of the year (Mathieson and Wall 1982) Maltas roadstead are of sorry condition. With congestion, noise and air pollution being an issue. The water supply, waste management, beaches and visitor attractions are stretched to capacity in the pass months each year when visitor numbers are at their peak. 2.1.2Seasonality of visitorsTourism in Malta is real seasonal, with the majority of incoming tourists arriving in the May to October period. In 2005, 68.4% of tourists arrived during these months, with 47.8% arriving during the months of July and September. (Appendix 2 shows Maltas Tourist Departures 2001-2005) This shows that tourist densities in Malta are very high during the peak season. In recent years the total number of tourists amounted to some three times as much as the resident population. (Briguglio and Briguglio, 1996)2.2Social Issues2.2.1Employment Maltas tourism industry operates 12 months of the year the seasonality causes issues for the Maltese citizens as employment within the tourism sector in non in effect(p) time. High tourist densities As previously mentioned, Malta has a densely populated country. The influx of visitors who arrive during the engross peak season, cause overcrowding and congestion, putting increased pressure on the already strained infrastructure. This creates discomfort for the topical anaesthetic residents. (Briguglio and Briguglio, 1996) as they are unable to use the topical anesthetic transport, visit places of interest or go to the beach. violate to historical places is caused with frequent visitor numbers with many of the important locations being in a state of decay2.3Environmental Issues2 .3.1Rapid increase in building work Building of tourist accommodation in Malta has increased at a very rapid rate as a result of intense development in certain areas (Briguglio and Briguglio, 1996). High rise concrete hotels have replaced the traditional Maltese houses, losing local culture and character. The increased construction work and development of the tourism industry as had a nix impact on the environment, as not enough commitment has been shown to the protection of the important habitats. The quarrying itself has an environmental impact, land degradation and dust pollution. The waste harvests left after construction, such as rubble, are not currently recycled, and are often dumped. (A Sustainable Development Strategy for the Maltese Islands, 2006) Also most of the buildings are not energy efficient, causing wasted energy and increased co2. Re crudeable energy has not been coordinated into many of the properties.2.3.2WasteThe sewage network in Malta is heavily taxed by the native population alone. (Briguglio and Briguglio, 1996). The high number of tourists increases this problem. This has had several knock-on effects including foul smells bays having to be closed for travel due to sewage pollution, degradation of botany and fauna as well as damage to the coastal and marine liveliness. Certain areas of Malta remain characterised by high levels of littering and dumping. (www.mepa.org.mt/ter08-resources+waste).2.3.3 urineFreshwater remains a scare national resource in Malta, particularly during the peak summer months due to the increased population density and arid climate. (www.mepa.org.mt/ter08-freshwater). Hotels use large amounts of water for swimming pools and watering gardens, which adds further pressure to the limited supply. Malta has a high dependence on desalinated water, which is expensive to bring out both from an economic and environmental point of view. Leakages from the distribution network are a problem as is the quality of the d rinking water.3PrioritiesThe main issues identified by the triple bottom line analysis of Malta are with the rapid development of the mass tourism sun, sea and sand market, consideration was not given to the countrys infrastructure. Future planning had not been put in place as to how the country would carry off with high numbers of visitors during the summer months, and what environmental effects this would have on the country. The priorities focus on the issues which pauperisation to be addressed.3.1 Investment in infrastructure Tourism is important to Maltas economy, it is therefore of the upmost grandeur that the infrastructure is improved, so that it is able to handle growing visitor numbers. Upgrade of the roads is necessary if the roads were in improved, it would reduce the congestion and noise problem, making the visitor experience better as well as being a much needed improvement for the local sight.3.2 Development of tourism product during the off peak season Malta curr ently depends heavily on the summer mass-tourism sun, sea and sand market. During the summer its visitor numbers are reaching capacity. Attention demand to be given to reducing seasonality through further development, education and marketing of the other facilities and attractions that Malta have to offer, encouraging existing summer visitors and potential new visitors to stay during off-peak season. This would benefit the local economy and the local people through full time employment, if the visitor numbers are spread throughout the year, local people would also not have the issue with overcrowding of local attractions. Finally the natural resources would also be better off if demand during the summer was less.3.3 Water and waste improvements Water supply and waste management establishments need to be addressedThe sewerage system needs to be addressed, currently most of effluents into the marine environment, which continues to have a detrimental effect on the environment as well as health threats to people using the sea. Littering, noise, clean water, lack of verdure and open spaces are among the factors that have an impact of Maltas natural heritage and negatively influence the battle of the overall Maltese product. If these matters are improved the experience for the tourist would be enhanced and the quality of life of the Maltese people would be enriched.Both are essential to sustain the current tourism industry, and flavour forward, these systems need to be invested in, if the tourism industry is to continue to grow.4.Conclusion Mass tourism cannot continue in Malta, as it has in other Mediterranean destinations, who have more space and resources to support such visitor numbers. Maltese Tourism must find a balance between increased tourism numbers with the needs of the local residents and the environment, so going forward it becomes more sustainable. Creating better places for people to live in and for people to visit. (The Cape Town Declaration, 2002 ).