Tourism and the Maltese Islands : observations, reflections and proposals

Abstract

This year the Institute for Tourism, Travel and Culture celebrates its the 10th Anniversary and this publication will serve as a watershed moment when through the contributions to this publication, we have at last a living document which illustrates the tourism status quo in the Maltese Islands against the backdrop of the international scenario. During the last few decades we have been inundated with publications, conferences, articles and discourse on the concept of sustainability: an open concept which is interpreted and understood in myriad ways. Whatever definition we attribute to it, in the Maltese islands there is a strong voice for having a 'sustainable' tourism industry. This is evident from the papers included in this publication. The prevalent concept of sustainability employs the three pillars model or the triple-bottom line (3BL) model: both based on the economic, socio-cultural and environmental (or ecological) elements. In graphical models they are also sometimes represented as concentric circles, or three overlapping circles so as to express their complexity into a simple visual aid, however this belies a complexity that ultimately boils down to the gains and benefits to one actor and risks and damage to the others. Balancing all three is a massive juggling act which at times may prove to be largely impossible.