The government has denied claims made by local NGO Moviment Graffitti that a legislation is in the works to build hotels on ODZ

“Reliable sources have told us that the government is preparing legislation allowing buildings in the countryside, meant for agricultural use, to be changed into hotels. This will radically change the Maltese landscape by extending the invasion of horrible hotels, that have been sprouting everywhere in urban areas, to the Maltese countryside as well,” the NGO wrote on social media.

It went on to say that one must take into account that the neglect towards such areas has been happening for years. They insisted that “hundreds of permits have been issued in the Maltese and Gozitan countryside – under the pretence of agricultural use – but in which fact had ulterior motives.”

Moviment Graffitti mentioned examples such as the controversial sheep farm in the previously untouched Bidnija valley which they described as “a sheep farm over three storeys equipped with a pool and a reception area.”

The NGO expressed that these buildings are being built “thanks to the Rural Policy of 2014” and although the same government has admitted that this policy is harming the Maltese countryside, it still remains unchanged

Moviment Graffitti urges the fight to safeguard the little countryside we have left and states that “our country cannot handle any more destruction because of greed.”

In response to the NGO’s post, an official statement by the government stated that the planning and Gozo ministries deny any discussions surrounding policies on outside development zones being built into hotels.