The socio-economic impacts of urban regeneration on tourism business stakeholders in Valletta

Abstract

This long essay was set out to observe the potential of tourism businesses in Valletta. With the main research purpose attempting to discover key social and economic impacts resulting due to urban regeneration. Thereafter, it evaluated whether the urban regeneration process can be seen as an instrument of support or otherwise to the business community. To accomplish this, a series of observational visits initiated the qualitative research process, where the urban areas of regeneration such as Strait Street, St. Elmo area, Castille Square and the covered market area, which is yet to be regenerated, where evaluated. Additionally, such observations assessed the prospective business to be interviewed in order to develop the sample of such developing areas. A series of in-depth interviews with this supply side of the tourism industry, including hotels, boutique hotels, restaurants and bars in Valletta were conducted. Such implications were thereafter analysed in context after an additional interview with an urban planner. From the results obtained it was concluded that the positive impacts outweight the negative ones, thus urban regeneration supports tourism business improvments.