Malta doubles down on sustainable tourism leadership with UN conference, new diplomatic ties
Malta concluded a three-day UN Tourism programme with a high-level conference on balancing growth, people and planet, and held bilateral talks with Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Montenegro and Israel.
Malta has concluded a three-day UN Tourism programme with a high-level policy conference, positioning the country as a hub for sustainable tourism thought leadership.
The event, titled “Driving tourism towards the future we want: a Dialogue on policies to balance growth, people and planet”, was jointly organised by UN Tourism, the Government of Malta and t-Forum Malta.
It brought together ministers, tourism officials, academics and industry leaders. Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ian Borg opened the conference alongside UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Al Nuwais.
Borg stressed the need for closer international cooperation. “Tourism continues to evolve rapidly and the challenges we face require countries, businesses and institutions to work more closely together than ever before,” he said. He added that the UN provides an essential platform for collective action and that Malta must continue bridging theory and practice by thinking globally while acting locally.
Malta Tourism Authority Chairman Dr Charles Mangion highlighted the role of research and knowledge. He said tourism must balance economic growth with social wellbeing and environmental responsibility.
MTA CEO Carlo Micallef described the conference as a step in positioning Malta as an active contributor to international tourism thought leadership. “Malta is proud to host meaningful discussions which focus not only on tourism growth, but also on sustainability, resident wellbeing and long-term resilience,” he said.
The programme also featured a presentation by renowned academic Professor Jafar Jafari, who launched the first issue of t-Forum Malta’s Hospitality and Tourism Intelligence Digest ‘The Bridge’. Jafari previously donated his academic library to the Malta Tourism Observatory.
Beyond the conference sessions, Malta held bilateral meetings with Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Montenegro and Israel. The discussions involved Deputy Prime Minister Borg, Permanent Secretary Christopher Cutajar, MTA Chairman Mangion, MTA CEO Micallef and Malta’s UN Tourism Focal Point Leslie Vella.
These meetings signal Malta’s intent to expand diplomatic tourism relations and explore new markets. The bilateral talks covered potential cooperation and knowledge exchange, according to the Malta Tourism Authority.
Malta’s involvement with UN Tourism extends beyond hosting events. The country participates in the General Assembly, the Commission for Europe and the Committee for Tourism and Competitiveness, where Vella serves as an elected member. Malta also hosts international conferences on tourism sustainability and tourism law.
For Malta’s business community, the event reinforces the country’s strategy to attract high-value tourism and investment through policy leadership. The emphasis on sustainable growth and international collaboration could open new markets and strengthen existing partnerships, particularly with the countries that engaged in bilateral talks.