The Phoenician cultural route as a framework for intercultural dialogue in today’s Mediterranean : a focus on Malta

Abstract

This paper asks how the Phoenicians’ Route acts as a framework for intercultural dialogue in today’s Mediterranean in the context of tourism in the region. It provides an answer with reference to recent aspects of the Route’s development in the field of intangible heritage. The focus of the paper is on those elements of intangible heritage that accompany, bring to life and highlight the social relevance of heritage by bringing to the fore the appreciation of artefacts, sites and monuments by Mediterranean communities. The paper emphasises the educational and social components of the actions that compose the Route in relation to tourism aspects, by looking at how these activities relate to the variety of cultural manifestations that make it up. This paper pays special attention to the inter-relation between educational, social and tourism activities and cultural manifestations in Malta, a recent member of the Route. The relatively equally recent entry of Malta into the European Union will provide a general context of international cultural collaboration by this island state. Furthermore, special attention is given to the annual Malta Mediterranean Literature Festival, in order to study the way the approach towards research about the Phoenicians supported by the Route is applied in the context of the Festival. It will be observed how the Festival links past and present by seeking inspiration from historical episodes of intercultural dialogue in the Mediterranean, such as those pertaining to the Phoenicians, and applying them to contemporary, pressing needs of artistic, cultural, political and social exchange within the Mediterranean space. Together with a focus on the Festival, this paper also refers to examples of best practice and recommendations for future policies and actions based on other areas of activity in Malta related to the Route. These include international seminars addressing intercultural dialogue and European collaboration supporting capacity building, skills development, entrepreneurship and the furthering of innovation and digitalisation in cultural and tourism itineraries.