Sustainable Tourism Law

LEGAL PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO SUSTAINABLE TOURISM 243 situated at minus one level, yet, in case of emergency, the lift would not be able to be used, and the disabled person may be unable to exit from that same minus one level due to the fact that there would not be any exits from that particular area. Other examples include that once the hotel accepts disabled persons, the hotel is equipped to provide them with the necessary alarm equipment in case of an emergency. Consequently, if a person is deaf (particularly should one happen to be a lone guest), the appropriate alarm system should be provided in the room, since such person would surely not be able to hear the fire alarm ringing. VII. MAXIMIZING SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY One of the GSTC Criteria for the hotel industry is that the hotel should be legally compliant, that is: “ the organisation is in compliance with all applicable local, national and international legislation and regulations including among others, health, safety, labour and environmental aspects .” Indeed, as the Roman maxim advocates “ ignorance of the law is no excuse ”, so it is expected that a hotel would be in line with all the laws of the land. It should also be highlighted that, particularly in Malta, which is a European Member State, certain criteria found within the framework of the GSTC standards may contribute to a breach of fundamental human rights and may also be considered downright illegal if they were not adhered to by Hotel Management or by any employer. It must be emphasised that certain criteria are incorporated into national laws, although they do not fall under the scope of Tourism Law; yet, as this paper shall be addressing, a particular law may inevitably and significantly contribute towards sustainable tourism. One such criterion is that the enterprise is equitable in hiring women and local minorities. This is reflected in Article 26 (1) of the Employment and Industrial Relations Act 13 which stipulates that: “ It shall not be lawful for any person – 13 Chapter 452 of the Laws of Malta.