ADPD Warns Malta's 4 Million Annual Tourists Unsustainable, Cites Overtourism Impact

ADPD Declares 4 Million Tourists 'Too Many' for Malta

ADPD – The Green Party has voiced strong concerns over the escalating number of tourists visiting Malta, asserting that the current figure of 4 million annual visitors is unsustainable and detrimental to the island. The party's warning comes as official statistics confirm a record-breaking year for tourism, with 4,022,310 inbound tourists recorded in 2025, a 12.9% increase over 2024. While the government has celebrated this growth, ADPD argues that the effects of overtourism are increasingly evident.

Environmental and Social Strain Highlighted

Sandra Gauci, ADPD Chairperson, emphasized that pursuing ever-growing tourist numbers without proper planning leads to significant harm. The party points to a range of issues, including increased traffic, mounting garbage, and heightened pressure on vital water and energy resources. Furthermore, ADPD highlighted the exploitation of public land and coasts through concessions, often favoring a select few, and the proliferation of low-quality jobs within the tourism sector.

The social fabric of Maltese communities is also under strain. ADPD noted that overtourism contributes to increased rents, the erosion of local character, and the transformation of residential areas into 'tourist villages' due to the conversion of homes into short-term rentals. Sensitive sites, such as the Natura 2000 site Comino, are reportedly being overexploited for commercial purposes, leading to environmental degradation.

Criticism of Government's Growth-Focused Vision

ADPD has been critical of the government's long-term tourism strategy, particularly the Vision 2050 plan, which reportedly aims to attract 4.5 million tourists annually by 2035. Party officials, including Deputy Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo and Secretary General Ralph Cassar, have labeled this approach as 'irresponsible and unsustainable,' warning that the 4 million mark could be reached even sooner than projected. They argue that the current model, focused on unchecked growth, is damaging to both residents and the environment.

Proposals for Sustainable Tourism

In response to these challenges, ADPD has put forward several proposals aimed at fostering a more sustainable tourism model:

• Implementing clear limits on tourist capacity, including restrictions on expanding hotels and increasing hotel beds or short-lets.
• Establishing clear limits on the capacity of sensitive sites and beaches.
• Ensuring transparency and fairness in tenders and concessions for public land and bays.
• Revising the current eco-tax, which stands at €1 per bed-night capped at €5, and allocating its proceeds directly to local councils to mitigate the impacts of tourism.
• Commissioning an updated study on Malta's tourism carrying capacity.
• Withdrawing planning policies that permit hotels to build additional storeys above approved height limits.

ADPD maintains that while tourism is an important economic sector, contributing approximately 15% to Malta's GDP, its pursuit 'without planning, without limits and without respecting communities and the environment' is ultimately harmful. The party advocates for a national strategy that prioritizes quality over quantity, ensuring that tourism benefits all residents and preserves Malta's unique heritage for future generations.