Tourism and Culture Minister Francis Zammit Dimech yesterday presented the Eco-Certification Awards during an award ceremony held at the Malta Hilton Hotel, St Julian’s.

“We congratulate those hotels that have maintained their commitment to continual improved environmental performance through participation in the Eco-Certification Scheme namely: Hilton Malta, our hosts for today; Le Meridien Phoenicia; Corinthia San Gorg Hotel; Corinthia Marina Hotel; Dolmen Resort Hotel; Grand Hotel Mercure Selmun Palace; Barcelò Riviera Resort & Spa; Santana Hotel; Sunflower Hotel; and Victoria Hotel. We encourage all other hoteliers to speak to MTA and investigate how they can participate in the Scheme,” said Minister Zammit Dimech.

In 2002, the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) identified a potential for hotels to offer a level of high quality to the tourist not previously exploited in Malta, by committing to continual improved environmental performance thereby also introducing cost savings. The Eco-certification scheme was introduced; it is similar to the EU’s Eco-Label, directed specifically at the hotel industry.

Eco-certification is designed to promote energy- and water-saving, and waste reduction and to increase environmental awareness among employees.

In order to provide a common benchmark, MTA designed flexible criteria to measure environmental performance and provide a tool to instigate a change in the management concept in Malta’s hotels.

According to a survey carried out in Alcudia, Majorca, 88 per cent of interviewees stated that the environmental quality of their place of residence during their stay on holiday is an important consideration of where they choose to reside.

A similar survey carried out in Malta revealed the following statistics:

• 86 per cent of tourists prefer hotels that take measures to protect the environment;

• 94 per cent feel that in the near future, more tourists will prefer hotels that take measures to protect the environment;

• 87 per cent stated that in their opinion, good tour operators should only offer hotels that take measures to protect the environment; and

• 86 per cent think that people would be willing to pay extra to stay at a hotel that implements measures to protect the environment.