The effects and perspectives international students attending local English schools during the summer period have on Malta’s tourism and cultural industries

Abstract

One of Malta’s most prominent niches in the Tourism Sector is English Language Schools, which have grown substantially in the past two decades in numbers and popularity. Covid has damaged this industry, although they are still slowly recovering; in the past, we still had quite a large number of young students coming to the island in hopes of learning English and also enjoying our culture and various other events. This research aims to dive further into the social aspects of how these students fit in our society and how much they contribute to our local tourism industry. This will be divided into two sections. Firstly, it is good to mention that this study will strictly focus on students over the age of 18 whose primary method of accommodation is Maltese host families. This will allow the study to be qualitative and quantitative through statistical interviews and focused interviews with host families. Secondly, to see how many of these students come for the product we are selling as a country. This ideology that Malta is a ‘Party Island’ thanks to the countless number of events which take place during the summer months, which attract many young people to the island. The general idea is that English Schools have become essential in our overall statistical tourist intake number during the summer months. This study aims to prove and further sustain this statement. It also will focus to, gather feedback on how these students perceive the island before they come and their reactions after their visit in hopes that their opinions help us develop a better environment for our prospective tourists. Given the recent pandemic, comparing questionnaires from the peak months of 2022 and 2023 will allow us to see how the global pandemic changed the industry and what is being done to get it back and running successfully again. Overall, this dissertation will provide us with an in-depth look at how English Language Schools affect not only our number but also the way they promote the island and the benefits they can have on local families who host them who debatably culturally expose these students much better than detailed recommended programmes for them. This research can be helpful using this theoretical framework by having complete knowledge of the complex dynamics and repercussions connected with international students attending local English schools during the summer. Furthermore, it directs the analysis by considering diverse elements, stakeholders, and points of view, allowing for a more nuanced evaluation of the study issue and creating evidence-based suggestions for long-term growth in Malta's education and tourist sectors.