Low-quality tourism has burdened residents across Malta, specifically those living in entertainment hubs like St Julian’s and Swieqi.

Drunk youths, vandalism, blaring music through all hours of the night, and sometimes even violence are just some of the disturbances citizens must endure due to the quality of tourists the island has attracted as of late.

“I wouldn’t be exaggerating if I said that thousands are living in hell because of noise, sleepless nights, football games in the middle of the night, rubbish piling up on pavements and streets, being threatened when they speak up, sexual harassment as soon as they step outside, drug use, drunk youths in the streets and vandalism,” Bartolo wrote. 

He called this the breakdown of the community caused by neighbouring flats being rented out to young tourist for short-term holidays who “don’t care about their neighbours and behave badly”. Bartolo further alleged that more than half of the current tourist apartments are unlicensed and now, people feel like they are no longer protected.

“The best protection they had was to be allowed to live in peace. They had been promised that no tourist licence would be issued unless neighbours gave their approval first. But that decision was reversed.”

Here, Bartolo condemned the government for protecting the “selfish interests” of short-let landlords and “abandoning” the common good of residents.

“Authorities are clearly not doing enough to protect residents who now feel like strangers in their own country, while those who visit for just a few days are allowed to do as they please.”

He argued that residents feel violated by an invasion of tourists, being forced to live in a “tourist complex” despite being born and raised in Malta and Gozo.

“They pay their taxes and all they want is to be respected and to live in peace.”

Bartolo concluded by calling for laws that protect residents and the enforcement of those that already exist.

“If residents keep getting left behind, their anger will only grow and turn against those who are supposed to be safeguarding the well-being of our citizens.”

How do you think the Maltese government should address the issue of low-quality tourism?