Be the first to comment!Coastal Integrated Governance for Sustainable Tourism in Gozo
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The COASTING project is coming to an end, with a Memorandum of Collaboration signed for ten critical actions.
COASTING – Coastal Integrated Governance for Sustainable Tourism – is an Interreg MED capitalisation project, co-financed by the ERDF, which the Gozo Region is project partner in.
The project is aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of a multilevel governance tool, such as the Coast Contract, fully framing coastal management and tourism sustainability issues.
Within the project and with the aim of raising awareness on coastal management and tourism sustainability, as well as of develop an fruitful environment for participatory governance, the Gozo Regional Committee held a series of participatory events for stakeholders in aspects affecting, or being a result of, the island’s coastal context, with the aim of paving the way towards a coastal contract for the island of Gozo.
The Gozo Region pointed out that this is of particular importance to the island since it heavily depends on tourism.
The technical input from the various players involved led to the agreement, in principle, on ten critical actions, that were included in a signed Memorandum of Collaboration.
Signatories include public authorities, NGOs and representatives of the private sector.
The Gozo Region explained that actions focus on the improvement of mobility, the protection of the skyline and natural state of undeveloped areas, cleaner seas and beaches, safeguarding and storage of water, irrigation and afforestation.
One particular highlight is the push for the introduction of smoking-free beaches, or the allocation of smoking areas on beaches.
This is due to a growing issue with the effect on the natural environment by leaching chemicals from litter, including cigarette butts, the Gozo Region said.
The Memorandum of Collaboration will be soon published on the project website and shared with the Gozo Region stakeholders.
The Gozo Region concluded by saying that it is considered to be a first step towards a more committed effort on coastal management and sustainable tourism in Gozo.
