Understanding the travel behaviour, and attitudes towards sustainable mobility amongst migrant commuters in Malta

Abstract

With ongoing challenges related to global warming, sustainable urban mobility remains a critical issue. Unsustainable travel behaviour is shaped not only by infrastructure and policy but also by societal attitudes, norms, and cultural influences, which are further diversified by international migration. In Malta, a highly dense and car-dependent island, the growing migrant population adds new layers of complexity to urban mobility, yet this group has been largely overlooked in existing research. This study addresses this gap by investigating the travel behaviour and attitudes towards sustainable mobility of international migrant commuters in Malta. The research adopts a mixed-methods, exploratory sequential case study design, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches for both in-depth and generalisable insights. The qualitative phase involved semi-structured interviews and activity diaries with 12 migrant commuters and 12 Maltese participants as a control group, followed by a quantitative survey of 331 migrant commuters. Secondary data, including census and policy documents, complement the primary data. Findings reveal that buses are the dominant transport mode among migrants (61%), while car ownership remains relatively low (23%). Mode choice is influenced mainly by practical factors such as cost, convenience, and traffic congestion, rather than environmental motivations. Migrant mobility is dynamic and adaptive, shaped by nationality, age, prior mobility experiences, and length of residence in Malta. Some migrants gradually assimilate into the island’s car-oriented system, whereas others maintain flexible, multimodal, and relatively sustainable practices. A “honeymoon period” in early settlement emerges as a key phase for policy intervention. Despite moderate awareness of sustainable mobility, everyday travel is comparatively sustainable, reflecting pragmatic adaptation. The study highlights opportunities to strengthen public transport, promote long-term sustainable mobility, and ensure migrant commuters’ voices inform urban mobility policies. Recommendations aim to encourage continued use of sustainable transport and prevent latestage car ownership, contributing to a fairer, more inclusive transport system that supports social integration and wellbeing.