Enhancing the Maltese tourism sector through the use of European funding

Abstract

The dissertation aims at enhancing the use of EU funding for the Maltese tourism sector. The use of EU funding is one way of utilising the benefits of being an EU Member State. However the use of these funds is still limited. This dissertation identifies the issues related to tourism and also the EU funding opportunities '1available for the tourism sector. The type funds analysed in the dissertation vary from structural funds to direct funds. An analysis on how these funds can be used per tourism segment and per issue is carried out. The feedback from employees within the Malta Tourism Authority and the Ministry for Tourism and Culture on the use of such funds is also discussed. Finally two case studies of local project related to tourism are analysed. The dissertation will attempt to identify what the difficulties of the current situation are, in relation to EU funding for tourism, and discuss ideas on how to rectify these problems in view of the next programming period.