European Maritime Day conference 21 May Hon Karmenu Vella, Minister for Tourism welcome speech

Transcription

1 European Maritime Day conference 21 May 2013 Hon Karmenu Vella, Minister for Tourism welcome speech Commissioner Damanaki, Ministers, Distinguished speakers, Ladies and Gentlemen On behalf of Malta, I welcome you to the European Maritime Day conference Before saying a few words on the theme of the conference, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the European Commission for organizing this conference here in Malta and for the co-operation extended to the Maltese authorities with the aim of making this conference a success. It is indeed my pleasure to be addressing this conference here today. It is highly significant that this year s European Maritime Day conference, which is being held in Malta, is focusing on coastal and maritime tourism. The whole raison d etre behind European Maritime Day is to celebrate the role and importance of our seas and oceans, raising awareness about the opportunities the seas offer us to create 1

2 new and better jobs in the maritime economy and letting the maritime economy grow whilst strengthening our commitment to do so sustainably. Certainly, Malta is a good showcase for the role and importance of our seas. Our sea sets the scene for this country an archipelago where one experiences the complementary land and seascape, where we are so dependent on the sea in our daily life. For our drinking water, we depend on the sea as potable water is produced through the desalination process. Our economy is also dependent on the sea through freeport activities, through shipping for the importation of goods, through cruise business and tourism. It is truly impossible to dissect the sea from Malta s tourism offer. We are an island in the middle of the Mediterranean, attracting people for a leisure holiday in summer and in winter. Malta is proud to offer to its visitors the best bathing water quality in the Mediterranean. Malta, in Diver Magazine, has been voted as the number 3 diving destination in the world preceded only by the Maldives and the Red Sea, meaning 2

3 that it is the number 1 destination in Europe for diving. In 2012, 322 cruise liner calls were registered in Maltese ports carrying over 608,000 cruise passengers mainly visiting from Germany, Italy, France, United Kingdom, Spain and the United States a 9% increase over the previous year in cruise passengers. Most of our primary tourist areas Valletta, Sliema, St Julians, Bugibba, Qawra, St Paul s Bay, Gozo - are located in proximity to the sea, with 99% of our tourist accommodation located in coastal areas. We need an ecologically and environmentally good marine environment, safe, secure and sustainable seas and attractive coastal areas. Evidently, coastal and maritime tourism plays a critical role in island destinations such as Malta - but not only. As recognized by the European Commission s communication on Blue Growth, coastal and maritime tourism was identified as one of the five value chains that could deliver sustainable growth and jobs in the blue economy for Europe. 3

4 With a 2 to 3% forecasted growth of coastal and maritime tourism by 2020 and with cruise tourism expected to create 100,000 new jobs in Europe by 2020 compared to 2010, it is certainly a sector which deserves the attention of policy-makers, economic players and other stakeholders. It is certainly positive, particularly in today s economic climate, to hear such growth prospects. Our policies and actions may contribute or deter from realizing that forecasted growth. It is our responsibility however to ensure that such growth is achieved through sustainable practices and is fairly distributed. Malta, the smallest EU member state, is a microcosm with impacts, whether positive or negative, being easily evident. I believe that consequently we have interesting experiences to share and various challenges to discuss within the context of implementing an integrated maritime policy. One challenge which certainly faces all destinations is that of seasonality. We have sought to create tourism products and experiences to target different niches such as cultural heritage, events, 4

5 the conference and incentive market and the English language learning market. As a result we are today attracting over 1.4 million tourists to this country, generating over 12 million guestnights, with growth particularly being registered during the off-peak months and allowing us to have a 12-month tourism operation. Yet, if these flows are not well managed, the question relating to tourism carrying capacity will arise. This given the fact that this country has an area of just 316 square kilometres with a population of over 400,000 residents, making it one of the most densely populated Member States. This is itself poses a challenge that relating to the management of marine and coastal resources a topic which will be discussed during one of the parallel sessions this afternoon and during some of tomorrow s workshops. For us here in Malta, spatial planning for land is certainly a challenge as the demand for land is varied and extensive and land is certainly a scarce resource. Similarly, marine spatial planning is a challenge. Allow me to illustrate. Where do we locate offshore wind farms, yacht marinas, port facilities? Any form of development which is 5

6 relatively close to the shore will have an impact potentially an impact on biodiversity, certainly a visual impact aesthetic impacts which may in turn affect our tourism industry. And we must ensure that the natural features of Malta s coastline, i.e. its mix and composition of bays, sandy beaches, rocky stretches, creeks, harbours, cliffs, caves and valleys, are protected, conserved and attractive as they represent a key asset in Malta s tourism product, which I must say, we may take as a given and fore granted. With 99% of our tourism accommodation located in coastal areas, certainly we need to address the attractiveness of these areas. Beaches are certainly a major attraction for coastal and maritime tourism, a basic product for the summer leisure traveller how will our beaches be affected as a result of climate change? We are seeing the introduction of alternative maritime activities and uses, for example, acquaculture, marinas, offshore windfarms, land reclamation, which when especially close to shore may trigger changes in the characteristics of our coastline. Coastal tourism is 6

7 perhaps the first sector that will be affected by potential displacement and increased demand for maritime space. What I have mentioned here are a few of the challenges destinations face and which need to be discussed in any debate on the management of marine and coastal management. We are however, thankfully, also faced with opportunities. I believe there is still scope for us to build our maritime tourism on, for example, managed marine protected areas, on maritime heritage, on the geographical features which characterise our coastal areas. This I say not just for Malta but for Europe. Just taking the case of Malta, I believe that we can do more to promote our maritime heritage and for our visitors to truly experience this richness. Our coastal fortifications are fascinating when viewed from the sea rather than from land. Certainly maritime heritage is an area where the EU can add value to what Member States can do individually and where Europe can achieve competitiveness and create jobs. Yet we must ensure that we have the right personnel with the appropriate skills for any 7

8 opportunities we identify. Certainly we need investment in people who work, who live and who visit coastal areas and who engage in maritime tourism activities. Tourism is about connectivity and exchange, between peoples and cultures. Cruising provides us with one opportunity for establishing this connectivity. We are seeing impressive growth rates in cruise business, cruise ships are getting bigger, port facilities are adapting to the demand for cruises, and safety remains critical and must always be safeguarded. Malta is benefitting from cruise business. We are strategically placed for itineraries. Yet challenges are faced, particularly through legislation which raises costs and through the competition faced from non-eu regions. Certainly these are themes which will be discussed during the parallel session this afternoon and during tomorrow s workshops. The challenges we face today unless addressed may deter us from achieving the objective of sustainable blue growth. In a scenario where the maritime space has a significant role in meeting Europe s 8

9 2020 strategy, with new emerging sectors vying for space and resources at sea, tourism, as a traditional coastal and maritime sector faces the challenge to sustain its pole position within the maritime economy. Us, policy-makers at all levels, need to be aware of this and recognise the importance and value of tourism as a maritime sector let us not forget that it not simply generates income and employment but it also allows for a wide spread distribution of income, a characteristic which is not present in some of the other upcoming maritime sectors. We must be cognisant of the threat that low profit margins in tourism pose - investment may consequently be redirected to other sectors or to non-eu countries, tour operators diverting their attention to other destinations or hotel owners preferring to move into real estate. We need to be aware of the intensity of conflicting activities and uses of the coast and maritime resources and the lack of skilled professional and motivated staff attracted to work in the sector due to conditions of work, and, of course, seasonality which threatens the sustainability of tourism. 9

10 In my view to address these challenges, the untapped potential of Europe s seas has to be harnessed for jobs and sustainable economic growth. The diversity of Europe s coastal and maritime areas can be promoted whilst the management of those same resources upon which such activity is based should be undertaken on the principles of sustainable development. At an European level and then at Member State level, we must adopt a truly integrated approach at policy making, where the projected growth in other sectors does not prejudice tourism. We need to invest in knowledge at all levels to have a better understanding of coastal and maritime tourism. EU legislation needs to fully support tourism activity in this field. We must also make the EU citizen more appreciative and aware of the value of our coastal and maritime resources. In addition, the Commission s strategy for coastal and maritime tourism should, in my opinion, look into two particular elements. First, it is essential that the strategy envisages additional actions 10

11 which support the competitiveness of SMEs, using financial instruments to encourage investment in the tourism offer and in environmental management. Secondly, the strategy and its actions must give particular attention to coastal and maritime tourism in island destinations which are highly dependent on tourism for their economic and social development. To achieve blue growth through tourism, the challenges highlighted earlier need to be addressed and the opportunities identified and built upon. I look forward to a fruitful debate on these and other challenges and opportunities and eventually to the Commission s strategy for coastal and maritime tourism. I would like, once again, to thank you all for participating in this conference and I hope that you will find time to truly experience maritime Malta, if not this time, in a subsequent visit. 11