In many popular travel destinations, surging visitor numbers boost hotel revenues while local residents face rising housing costs and the reshaping of their neighbourhoods. To address this growing imbalance, a Malta-based initiative called Positive Action Community Tourism (PACT) is encouraging the hotel sector to invest directly in the communities hosting them.
Founded by British entrepreneur Mark Weingard, head of the luxury Iniala Group, PACT has already gathered 45 hotel members since launching in Valletta. The coalition calls on hospitality businesses to collaborate with residents and sponsor local cultural and sporting projects so that tourism leaves a lasting social benefit. Weingard stressed that hotels can no longer simply open in a destination to extract profit, arguing that businesses must actively earn the respect of local communities.
In Valletta, Weingard's boutique resort was established by restoring several historic buildings to fit into the existing cityscape, aiming to preserve architectural heritage while reviving local activity. PACT is now collaborating with the World Travel & Tourism Council to expand the initiative internationally, with plans to replicate the community-focused model in cities such as Lisbon, Athens, and Madrid.
Advocates of the pact argue that integrating hotels into neighborhood life could offer a realistic response to gentrification across European cities. By preserving local identity and supporting resident wellbeing, the organisers hope that growing the network will help cities welcome travellers without driving out the people and traditions that define them.