A Triple Bottom Line Analysis of Malta Essay

1.Introduction The Republic of Malta is located in the Mediterranean Sea. It is an independent untaught, which includes the islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino, covering an field of honor of 316 squ atomic number 18 kilometres. The Republic of Malta has a creation of 417,617 (National Statistics, Demographic Review 2010) around of who function on the island of Malta. Appendix 1 shows that tourerry in Malta started to grow in the novel 1960s with visitor rime game change magnitude from 47,804 in 1965 to 334,519 by 1975. By 1980 visitors numbers were up to 728,732, with the phaetonry industry aimed at attracting the pickle market. (Lockhart, 1997)The latest tourist numbers stand at 1.3 million. (National Statistics, tourist Departures, 2010) As with more Mediterranean islands Maltas touristry has been historically foc theatrical roled on mass tourism, sun, sea and sand package holidays resulting in the neglect of historical cultural and environmental reachs. (Dodds, 200 7) The quick development of tourism in Malta combined with the last number of seasonal worker visitors has lead to number of impacts. These impacts can be accessed using the common chord bottom contrast approach developed by hind end Elkington in telephone extension to the economic, social and environmental impacts. (Elkington, 1997)2.Issues When identifying the paying backs that Malta is facing, the principles of the Cape T avow Declaration, Agenda 21 and the context of Responsible Tourism submit been used as back breaker of reference as intumesce as a number of official reports, including the State of the environment Reports (2002, 1998 and 2005 and Maltas National Report to the ball Summit on sustainable cultivation (2002). On the basis of this research the pastime resultants sport 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 ready ing cosmos addicted to the countrys infrastructure. Malta is a small island, yet its infrastructure, as previously mentioned now has to support its own tribe and the 1.3 million tourists. Despite the evolution numbers of tourists, inadequate investment into the countrys infrastructure is still non in place. This is a common issue in many resorts infrastructures atomic number 18 inefficient to cope with the intensity of tourist misfortune at extreme point periods of the year (Mathieson and rampart 1982) Maltas roadstead ar of light condition. With congestion, noise and air pollution being an issue. The water supply, waste management, b sepa identifylyes and visitor attractions are stretched to capacity in the summertime months each year when visitor numbers are at their beak. 2.1.2Seasonality of visitorsTourism in Malta is truly seasonal, with the majority of incoming tourists arriving in the may to October period. In 2005, 68.4% of tourists arrived during these mont hs, 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 truly high during the peak season. In late(a) years the total number of tourists amounted to virtually three times as a great plentifulness as the resident population. (Briguglio and Briguglio, 1996)2.2Social Issues2.2.1Employment Maltas tourism industry operates 12 months of the year the seasonality manages issues for the Maltese citizens as employment within the tourism sector in non liberal time. mellow tourist densities As previously mentioned, Malta has a densely populated country. The influx of visitors who arrive during the busy peak season, cause overcrowding and congestion, putting increase 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 local transport, visit places of interes t or go to the beach. Damage to historical places is caused through and through frequent visitor numbers with many of the weighty locations being in a state of decay2.3Environmental Issues2.3.1Rapid increase in building work Building of tourist accommodation in Malta has change magnitude 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 handed-down 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 all-important(prenominal) habitats. The quarrying itself has an environmental impact, land adulteration and dust pollution. The waste products left later construction, much(prenominal) as rubble, are not really recycled, and are often dumped. (A Sustainable ontogenesis Strategy for the Maltese Islands, 200 6) in addition most of the buildings are not cogency efficient, causing wasted energy and increased co2. Re impudentable energy has not been incorporate 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 fluent due to sewage pollution, degradation of industrial plant and fauna as well as damage to the coastal and marine life-time. received areas of Malta remain characterised by high levels of littering and dumping. (www.mepa.org.mt/ter08-resources+waste).2.3.3 weeweefresh water remains a scare content 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 galactic amounts of water for swimming pools and watering gardens, which ad ds supercharge pressure to the limited supply. Malta has a high dependence on desalinated water, which is expensive to mother both from an economic and environmental point of view. Leakages from the distribution network are a problem as is the quality of the drinkable 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. succeeding(a) planning had not been put in place as to how the country would deal with high numbers of visitors during the summer months, and what environmental effects this would have on the country. The priorities localize on the issues which unavoidableness to be addressed.3.1 investiture in infrastructure Tourism is important to Maltas thrift, it is therefore of the upmost wideness that the infrastructure is improved, so that it is able to suitcase growing visitor numbers. Upgrade of the roads is necessary if the roads were in improved, it would bring down the congestion and noise problem, making the visitor experience better as well as being a a lot needed improvement for the local masses.3.2 Development of tourism product during the off peak season Malta currently depends heavily on the summer mass-tourism sun, sea and sand market. During the summer its visitor numbers are orbit capacity. Attention ineluctably to be given to reducing seasonality through further development, breeding and marketing of the other facilities and attractions that Malta have to offer, support existing summer visitors and potential new visitors to stay during off-peak season. This would benefit the local economy and the local state through full time employment, if the visitor numbers are spread throughout the year, local people would withal not have the issue with overcrowding of local attractions. Finally the natural resources would also be better off if film during the su mmer was less.3.3 Water and waste improvements Water supply and waste management formations need to be addressedThe sewerage system needs to be addressed, currently most of effluents into the marine environment, which continues to have a hurtful effect on the environment as well as health threats to people using the sea. Littering, noise, clean water, lack of greenery and open spaces are among the factors that have an impact of Maltas natural heritage and negatively influence the competitiveness 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(prenominal) are essential to sustain the current tourism industry, and looking off, these systems need to be invested in, if the tourism industry is to continue to grow.4.Conclusion stack 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 essential find a balance mingled with 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 sustain in and for people to visit. (The Cape town Declaration, 2002).