ADPD-The Green Party on Thursday welcomed the proposals put forward by Minister Ian Borg to regulate short-term tourist rentals and withdraw the additional floor allowance for existing hotels, describing them as a step in the right direction, albeit a delayed one.

After years of largely unchecked growth in the tourism sector, the party argues that Malta urgently needs a clearer framework that addresses the impact on local communities, residents' quality of life, and long-term sustainability.

Party chairperson Sandra Gauci stressed that these measures must go beyond paper commitments. Property owners renting for tourism purposes should carry full responsibility for their operations, particularly regarding their impact on neighbours and the wider community.

This included clear and enforceable standards on noise, waste management, safety, and legal compliance. ADPD also considers the proposed cap of 10 persons per rental unit to be too high and insists on effective enforcement backed by adequate resources and political will.

The party reiterated its long-standing proposals, particularly for localities already under strain from intensive development and short-let activity. These include limits on the number of properties that can be used for tourist rentals in residential areas and meaningful consultation with affected communities.

ADPD also advocated for a revised tourist tax based on the length of stay, without capping, and suggests that revenue should be directed to local councils.

More broadly, ADPD argued that Malta's tourism model requires a fundamental shift. Rather than continuously expanding accommodation capacity, the focus should be on a model that respects the country's limited resources and improves the experience for both visitors and residents. This means investing in sustainable infrastructure, protecting natural and urban environments, and imposing limits on further tourism-related development.

The party concluded that without addressing the core issue of ever-increasing capacity, pressure on infrastructure, traffic, and noise will continue to grow, undermining quality of life.

MHRA welcomes new tourism accommodation framework as a bold step towards a higher-value tourism model

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) welcomed the new tourism accommodation framework, saying it reflects principles long advocated by the industry in support of a more sustainable and higher-value tourism model.

MHRA expressed support for the direction being taken by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Dr Ian Borg, together with the Malta Tourism Authority, describing the move as timely and decisive.

"This is a courageous and necessary decision that sends a clear message of confidence to operators and investors who have consistently invested in quality and in raising Malta's tourism standards," MHRA said.

The Association said the framework marks an important shift in Malta's tourism strategy.

"These measures are timely and necessary. They build on the opportunities created over past decades while directing the sector towards Malta's long-term goals. They also show that Malta is prioritising tourism investment and accommodation supply that support a higher-quality, higher-value industry - one that delivers stronger returns, improves the visitor experience, strengthens competitiveness, reduces pressure on communities and infrastructure, and competes on quality rather than price alone."

MHRA stressed that the next step must be strong and consistent enforcement.

"Enforcement is now critical. Specifically, the framework must ensure that owners of short-term rentals are held fully accountable, treating these as commercial business operations with clear obligations towards the State and local communities."

The Association also stressed that the framework must be applied strictly and consistently to better manage accommodation supply, particularly in light of pressures already highlighted in the Deloitte carrying capacity study, and to ensure future growth supports Malta's vision for higher-quality tourism.

MHRA added that further action is also needed in the restaurants, bars, and clubs sector as part of the wider policy vision required to complement the framework.