Tourism and recreational impacts on Marsalforn : from a fishing village to a tourist resort

Abstract

Marsalforn from a primitive fishing village has seen its transition to a fully-fledged tourist resort located 2 km due east of Zebbug in Gozo. It now enjoys an influx of both foreign and internal tourists attracted to the area by the beautiful bay and the surrounding amenities as well as its restaurants, which have selective cuisines that make them a specialty. This transformation occurred over the last half a century. Marsalforn is probably one of the satellite villages that experienced an influx of summer residents, with an apartment or residence as their second home. The theme on Marsalforn is that of tourism/recreation and fishing, co-existing in harmony with each other. There are numerous impacts, both positive and negative on the economy, on the environment and on the socio-cultural life of residents. This transformation is to be analysed with the aid of tools by interpretation of old photographs and aerial views, a contemporary land use analysis and questionnaires conducted and distributed to restaurant operators and household residents in Marsalforn.