A contemporary evaluation of the regeneration initiatives for Qawra and Bugibba : a critical analysis

Abstract

Tourism is one of the fastest growing industries in the world and hence one of the most competitive environments to compete and successfully operate in. With the increase in competitiveness and changing consumer demands, some resorts fail to meet the tourist‟s expectation, which leads to a decline in the attractiveness of the resort and eventually to a decrease in visitors. Developing and implementing regeneration initiatives causes both positive and negative impacts as well as highlight further improvements and issues that need to be tackled. This research is primarily concerned with the initiatives undertaken specifically for the regeneration of Qawra and neighbouring town Bugibba. Qawra and neighbouring town Bugibba are product of the late 1900‟s tourism boom. They were once known as outstanding seaside tourism resorts however, due to their rapid growth and aesthetic value, they have been stagnated in terms of visits from both locals and foreigners. The results obtained from the interviews carried throughout this research show that although there have been various attempts at regenerating these towns, no strategic plan was ever created. This also shows that there is a clear indication for the need of a successful long-term regeneration strategy incorporating all the St. Paul's Bay area.