Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg this week announced a set of regulations which introduce sweeping new rules that affect the tourism industry.

These regulations are long overdue, and have been - quite rightly - praised in almost all quarters.

These new regulations were published on Wednesday via a legal notice, under the Malta Travel and Tourism Services Act.

In a bid to promote Malta as a higher quality destination, these laws will stop tourism authorities from licensing new all-inclusive and tourist resorts. These new rules will also stop applications for one-star and two-star accommodations from being filed altogether.

There are also changes that impact the planning sector: for example, hotels with over 200 rooms will no longer be considered, the only hostels allowed will be ones of an educational nature, inside residential zones, with a maximum of 40 beds, and an exemption that has allowed hotels to construct an additional two storeys over local plan limits will also be removed.

There were also changes to the short-lets industry - a sector which has proven to be a significant nuisance to residents in particular - in order to emphasise on accountability.  As part of the reforms, owners or operators of a property will be obliged to display their licence numbers on a sign outside the property, along with their name and phone number.

This sign will need to remain on display at all hours so that they may receive complaints or be notified about certain issues at all times.  A 10-person cap will be imposed onto all short-lets. These types of accommodations will also need to submit and provide a waste collection management plan, among other related requirements.

These are all important changes that respond to some of the realities present today, but also finally give a tangible indication in favour of the direction that the government has long been advocating for: that of emphasising on quality tourism.

Malta is at such a point where it does not need more hotels of a lower quality.  If the country wants to attract high quality tourists, it needs quality accommodation, and more one and two star hotels are not going to reach that goal.

The rolling back of a height exemption for hotels is also a noteworthy proposal, although one can argue that it has come a little bit too late and should have been implemented earlier.

The changes to short-let rules are also particularly important.  This sector was something of a Wild West within the tourism industry, as many owners and operators seemed to do as they please, irrespective of the inconvenience they caused to those around them.

The wanton dumping of rubbish in total ignorance of the designated waste pick up days - thereby resulting in black bags, for instance, sitting out on the pavement for days on end in the blazing summer sun, attracting all sorts of vermin to the area - is one such example, and thankfully it appears that it will be one of the points tackled.

It is especially good that owners will have to display their contact in such a place where residents may complain if their guests are being unruly. 

This is the type of responsibility that there must be in order to promote a quality environment; because after all the environment must be a quality one for both the tourists and the residents living their daily lives around them.