ADPD – Green Party Leader Sandra Gauci has welcomed the Labour Party’s decision to adopt a long-standing ADPD proposal to increase the tourist eco-contribution and redirect part of the revenue toward local councils. ADPD had originally argued that localities most affected by mass tourism should directly receive eco-tax funds in order to finance waste collection, maintenance, infrastructure and environmental improvements.
The Labour Party is now pledging to increase the eco-contribution paid by tourists from €0.50 per night to €1.50 per night, with part of the additional revenue expected to be allocated directly to local councils for environmental and embellishment projects.
The proposal mirrors a motion originally tabled by Sandra Gauci within the St Paul’s Bay Local Council in August 2025. Gauci had proposed that eco-tax revenues generated by tourism in St Paul’s Bay should remain within the locality rather than being retained centrally through the Malta Tourism Authority. She also called for the removal of the €5 cap on the eco-tax and argued that the €0.50 daily rate was “ridiculous” given the real pressures caused by mass tourism.
At the time, Labour councillors strongly opposed the motion and the council sitting descended into heckling, insults and disruptions directed at Sandra Gauci. Despite the hostility, the motion was ultimately approved by the council. You can watch the Council sitting held on the 19th August of last year below.
ADPD is the only political party so far to have published its electoral manifesto.
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