Malta’s tourism development : themes, impacts, challenges, patterns and contrasts : pointers for a framework for short/long-term tourism development

Abstract

Islands form part of the set of diverse destinations in Western Europe. Some of those islands, like Malta, are sovereign states, allowing them to independently develop their own economies, manage their own limited resources and govern the commons with a view to economic and social development. Island states, more than other islands, require a financial injection into their economies, which drives governments to prioritize international tourism since it generates income and employment, allows social interaction and addresses insularity. Such prioritization facilitates tourism development. The World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2019 ranks Malta first, globally, in the pillar ‘Prioritization of Travel and Tourism’.