Religious heritage : a cutural inheritance and a tourism attraction

Abstract

Religion and its manifestations trace their appearance in the Maltese archipelago from prehistoric times. With the dawn of human settlement, majestic megalithic temples ushered in a strong and continuous religious heritage and tradition which have been, and are still, so typical of Maltese society. The Maltese festa season puts this verity in clear evidence, manifested by the religious ceremonies, processions with the titular statues, fireworks displays, band marches, street decorations, feast food and all the other trappings, which together announce the island's religious heritage to both locals and tourists. Religion in Malta is therefore not only a historical, cultural and ritual reality, but is also a strong and potentially beneficial tourism product. Though still understated, religious tourism is arguably a niche that can be developed much further. Added to the already available range of tourism offerings, and the variety of cultural attractions, this new niche can further entice the hundreds of thousands of cultural tourists that visit every year. The southeast region of Malta too, has its religious heritage and traditions, with each town and village manifesting these in its own particular ways. The localities of the southeast can, therefore, become significant players in the promotion of the religious cultural realities of their communities; and in so doing benefit from attracting more visitors to the region, as well as contributing to strengthen the national effort aimed at developing further the cultural tourism package on offer.