Minister of Tourism Mario de Marco expressed the importance of Hotels moving towards alternative energy schemes at the Eco-Certification Seminar at the Preluna Hotel.

“It is important that we move towards responsible and sustainable tourism,” said Dr. de Marco. “We need to look at the control of chemicals, water, energy and green areas which hotels have”.

The minister mentioned that he would like to subsidise the hotel industry’s movement towards using alternative energy. “In 2007, the tax payer used to subsidise energy costs for hotels, but this wasn’t fair”, Dr. de Marco added.

As of now, 33% of the total bed stock in maltese hotels are eco-certified. That’s ten 5-star, ten 4-star and three 3-star hotels, with a further four soon expected to become certified.

This year is looking to be another record breaking year. Dr. de Marco said that there were 21,000 more tourists, 750,000 more bed nights and €90 million more spent by tourists over the year 2011