I read this week about two news items that caught my eye – both of them showing the urgent need for good governance, management and a focus on the national interest instead of an autocratic view on what interests a cross section of the population. The first is the destruction of the historic gardens of San Anton and the second is the “reshuffle” by this government that was just a puerile version of musical chairs with no attention to adding value to our quality of life and with making these islands that quality destination which some people still dream about.
Both subjects show clear signs of erosion in any solid, clear sense of governance here. I will discuss both issues and link the two as an example of how these islands need a complete turnaround in governance, attitude, civic duties and responsibility if it is break away from the situation today. Obviously there will be the six stages I propose to kick start this process.
So this week we see a continuation of the trend in taking the wrong decisions that will ensure stability, quality and a civic sense of behaviour and national pride.
The report that there is a project being proposed for the historic 17th Century gardens of San Anton to turn part of it into a commercial area obviously was a rough iteration of what I had written in 2022 when I suggested the urgent restoration of this heritage site including :
1. A wooden walkway above the old limestone paths that would protect these historical footpaths and allow the roots of the old trees to spread safely without further damage.
2. The old “zoo” that has now become a scene of desolation and utter inhuman care for animals should be restored as a visitor interpretation site for the gardens, a retail shop selling guides and merchandise for the gardens (a great way to create awareness of the importance of the site and also raise funds for this important place) and also a winter garden tea room.
So the project took this idea and plagarized it by leaving out the sustainable concepts and adding the massive plans for a commercial outlet that will turn these gardens into a private venue which could destroy the utter beauty of this green space in Attard.
This sordid idea is actually very much related to the reorganization of the government officials, not in the national interest, but in the personal interests of individuals. Everything that is planned on these islands today has a strong scent of personalization. I find this to be totally wrong and one day the islands will suffer when visitors (and locals) catch on to the idea that they have been taken for a long ride to nowhere over these years. But, as usual, let me list the six stages for recovery from this mess:
1. The San Anton Gardens are historic and my previous suggestions, mentioned above, were not meant to create a cash cow but to add value to the visitor experience and assist with the costs for operating and managing this heritage site.
2. San Anton also needs to be the venue for the traditional cultural events that used to take place there some 40 years ago – the fur and feather shows, the flower shows and the open air theatre in summer.
3. There needs to be a working group consisting of academics, garden and landscape experts and professionals and government and opposition representation which will manage the gardens and are open to public consultation and participation through reports that are in the public domain.
4. San Anton gardens needs to be an example of how public spaces are in the national interest and how the government of the day must be focused on the national interest and not on egocentric or private interests.
5. A programme of events for the garden must be both social, cultural and educational and the working group must consult constantly and consistently with the public.
6. The gardens must be set up as the benchmark for good governance at a national and local level.
By following these six stages, we can ensure that these islands are managed professionally, sustainably and with the idea of developing a quality activity that attracts the visitor who wants to be here not the one who wants to be here. Travel and Tourism to these islands today is about quantitative gains for the greedy and uncouth. We need to put professionalism and hospitality back in the equation.
Still more facts in this short article that I hope will continue to encourage more people to write in and assist in the compilation of the Guidelines to Stewardship by Q2 of 2024. Thank you to all those who have already shown their support from as far as the UK, Switzerland and Germany (incidentally three of our key source markets). If we persist in ignoring these facts then , as I have said, tourism here will be an activity that may just attract sordid and nasty characters instead of the visitor who wants to be here – let us keep persisting.
In the next months I will be completing the Guidelines for Stewardships with the help of a number of individuals and NGOs who have already approached me and I hope to present this to you, as the community, to our politicians and to our authorities. We may, yet, be able to save these islands from total oblivion as a sustainable and quality tourist destination – that is my New Year’s resolution. Will YOU join me? Let us get together now to start to compile these guidelines.
Recommendations and Summary:
1. Let us build community spirit by developing the guidelines for Stewardship together; I invite all those interested to contact me.
2. We should identify areas where we can regenerate local tourism for the quality visitor.
3. Recognize our duty as communities to enhance our environment and care for the precious trees that will add value to our moral, ethical and physical quality of life.
4. Those NGOs and persons (including local councils) interested in working with me on this project should email me on [email protected] or call me on 99167805.
5. Let us get going - let us really build better and reverse the horrendous state of this island.
Dr Julian Zarb is a researcher, local tourism planning consultant and an Academic at the University of Malta. He has also been appointed as an Expert for the High Streets Task Force in the UK. His main area of research is community-based tourism and local tourism planning using the integrated approach.