Between tourism and (il)legal migration : the Bulgarian experience in Malta

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to study the Bulgarians who live, work and study in Malta and those who visit as tourists. The objectives were to find out what attracts them to Malta, their motivations to stay and the roles they play in the Islands’ tourism industry. The impact of Bulgaria’s recent membership in the European Union was also explored to find out whether it influenced the decision of Bulgarians to visit and stay in Malta. Quantitative analysis of data about the Bulgarians holding legal work permits in Malta was conducted as a background to the study. The main research method was in-depth interviews with 4 groups of respondents: Bulgarian university students, workers in the tourism industry, workers in other sectors, and tourists. Maltese people who have had extensive contacts with Bulgarians were also interviewed to gain a more complete picture of the situation. The main findings of the research showed that the motivations of Bulgarians who come to Malta were often financial, and the attempt to escape dire economic conditions in their home country was the overriding factor. For students, the perceived quality of the education was the main motivation, while visitors were attracted mostly by the mild climate, good nightlife and rich cultural heritage. For all groups, English as an official language and the perception of safety and a relaxed lifestyle were additional motivators. Other more specific findings were that the main source of information about Malta was word-of-mouth from friends and relatives who lived there or had visited before. Also, the role of the European Union in Bulgarians’ lives in Malta and its influence on their motivations was minimal. The conclusions of the study show that Bulgarians play significant roles in Malta’s tourism industry as travellers, entrepreneurs, marketers, labour force and cultural translators.