Tourism is providing a powerful contribution to the growth that has been part of Malta’s economic system these past years. May it continue to do so, even if one must watch out not to fall victim to euphoria.
The latest statistics regarding toruism in the first three months of this year show a rise of 18.4 percent over the previous year in the nights that tourists spent here. In a period that is not considered as part of the peak tourist season, that represented a substantial increase. Even more so when contrasted to the rise that happened in 2017 over the preceding year: an increase of 11.1 percent. On the other hand, the average number of nights that visiting tourists spent on the island stood at 7.3 in 2016, and 6.5 in both 2017 and this year, always during the first three months of the year.
What must create cause for “concern” is that the average per capita spend by visiting tousists has been in strong decline. It stood at 744€ in 2016; 680€ in 2017; and 655€ this year. One has to consider whether the increase in incoming visitors signals that what is being achieved might lead to a situation where more means less.
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The illiberalism of the "exiles"
Increasingly, a current of illiberalism can be sensed among those who, as part of the PN Opposition (at least, that is how they portray themselves), seek to condemn outright what is happening or failing to happen around them. Only their facts are noteworthy, only what they feel should be taken into account.
It is true that in a political scenario like the one we follow, partisanship gets institutionalised. To consider only yourself as belonging to heaven (whether lost or regained) while the rest only belong to hell, is regarded as the normal way by which to live in this world and understand it.
Even so, some are now breaking through all the limits of decency that used to prevail in the past, even during the sixties and eighties of the previous century.
Today’s illiberalism has reached the point where it does not matter at all if you accuse whoever disagrees with you, not just as stupidity incarnate, but also as corrupt. Don’t just label him/her as a violent peson, call him/her a murderer. Saying he/she is insufferable will not suffice; say that he/she is an animal lacking all conscience.
Most important in all this is how to forget that you feel for ever exiled from all access to state power – and you were so used to consider that this was your birthright.
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Local councils: what future?
Meanwhile the PN Opposition has finally registered good points about present day developments that are worth considering: they relate to local councils, a project the PN put forward and implemented when in government. Its argument has been that given how matters have been developing, the space for local council initiatives has continued to shrink. A case in point is the local wardens system – who runs it? and how?
The claim also is made that while the volume of work which local councils must handle has grown because of the increased levels of economic and social activity, the resources available to councils have stagnated or indeed been clawed back.
A fundamental dilemma in local management still is that while the central aim was always decentralisation (of local affairs), the mobilising call was (still is) one that proclaims devolution.