As Malta restructures its tourism industry, urban historic cores become increasingly relevant. Malta and Gozo are fortunate to have a number of historic urban cores, many of which have retained their historic character. Some include features such as fortifications and waterfronts, which greatly enhance the visitor experience. Greater commitment to urban regeneration would address shortcomings which currently undermine Malta's tourism potential.

The leisure experience of historic cores is derived from several aspects. The first and most obvious is the visual element. Old urban cores evolve over time; the form, scale and materials of a building reflect the time when it was built. Individual buildings and/or group of buildings include features which make them visually interesting and pleasing.

In some urban historic cores, winding roads and variable road widths are common features. These provide ample opportunities to explore and 'discover' interesting façades and features. A narrow street or a small piazza gives a feeling of intimacy and closeness. A large space with one or more imposing building give a feeling of grandeur. Pedestrians in historic cores are continuously confronted with new sights, new buildings, new features to be observed. Contrast and diversity of urban spaces enhance the visitor experience.

Historic cores offer a sense of place or genus loci which more modern urban areas frequently lack. The visitor takes with him/her the memory of an image of a particular piazza or street - an image which may be unrepeatable in another other town or city. The more unique and distinctive the buildings and the spaces are - the more will they give rise to the genus loci.

Many historic cores instil a sense of nostalgia. Visitors have a romantic (and in most cases, mistaken) perception that centuries ago, people's lives were in some ways better, more interesting or more exciting. Buildings and spaces within the historic core are a tangible reminder of past days and in many instances, provide the suitable settings for historic re-enactments.

Stories are a popular form of leisure, irrespective of the medium used to tell the story - television, films or books. At a historic site, visitors are told (by a guide, an interpretation panel or a guide book) stories about the site - when it came into being, the changes it underwent over time, relevant circumstances and usually some interesting anecdote. These are all 'stories' which make for a much more pleasant and interesting experience. Historic urban areas are ideal places for telling such stories of the area and of individual buildings within it.

Urban spaces within historic areas are greatly enhanced if there is activity going on. Shopping streets, markets and street performers generate a lively atmosphere which tourists will find attractive. The inverse is also true. Urban spaces which lack people and activity, especially if they are large spaces, will be perceived as dead spaces. To create attractive urban spaces, urban regeneration needs to address issues related to the activities within spaces.

The value of a historic core as a visitor attraction is further enhanced where there are special features which make the area more unique and distinctive. Historic waterfronts, for example, are attractive because of open views across the water. Activity on the water, such as pleasure boats, rowing boats, etc., provide a focus of attention for passers-by.

Fortifications are also a distinctive feature which add uniqueness. A wall around a historic town is significant in several ways. It provides a clear definition of the extent of the historic core. It tells a story; this is a town which was attacked or which was liable to attack. It is a reflection of the science of warfare prevailing at the time it was built. Most walled towns are on high ground and therefore provide views from the ramparts.

Urban regeneration and tourism

A pedestrian's experience of a historic urban core is undermined if there is a poor quality environment. For example, excessive presence of motor vehicles causes high levels of pollution and noise and are visually intrusive. Poorly maintained and/or vacant buildings create derelict streetscapes. Inadequate street cleaning, poor refuse collection, poor maintenance of street furniture cause shabbiness.

Urban regeneration is not a one-off initiative. It is a process over time involving several initiatives, many of which are intended to improve the environmental quality of the area. An improved environment and hence an improved image generates further investment from the private sector thereby giving greater momentum to the regeneration process.

Urban regeneration of a historic core addresses those deficiencies which undermine the area's potential for tourism. Inevitably, therefore, it is beneficial to tourism, provided, of course, that the basic tourism infrastructure is in place, particularly accommodation and marketing.

In many tourism destinations, such as Malta, urban regeneration and tourism are interdependent. The motivations for regeneration are normally mixed and include both social and economic considerations. Tour-ism is often cited as an added justification for regeneration.

Concurrently, the regeneration process could include the introduction of tourism-related uses in historic areas such as visitor attractions, hotels and leisure facilities. If such facilities are successful, they bring people into an area and encourage entrepreneurs to embark on new commercial ventures. Tourism uses in historic areas are beneficial to the regeneration process which in turn benefits the tourism industry as a whole.

Clearly, any new development has to ensure that the historic and social character of the area is not unduly compromised as this would detract the area's tourism potential.

The tourism industry in Malta relies heavily on the sun and sea. Excessive dependence on sun-sea tourism involves risks because of increased competition, with several countries being able to offer a better sun-sea product at a lower price (largely because of lower standards of living).

Restructuring is required to make the tourism industry more sustainable in the long run. Reducing dependence on sun and sea will better spread tourism flows throughout the year, making better use of the tourism infrastructure, particularly accommodation.

Restructuring involves the development of niche markets. Cultural tourism is one such market with significant potential for further growth. Malta has a rich and colourful history which is amply displayed by innumerable buildings, fortifications, museums and archaeological sites.

Heritage assets are within a relatively small area and within easy reach of hotels, greatly reducing the need for travel. The weather enables Maltese and tourists to enjoy our many open spaces - streets and piazzas, waterfronts and promenades.

Malta's heritage is unique. If properly developed and marketed, it could provide for a tourism product offer which no other destination can match.

The importance of utilising Malta's unique assets is best illustrated by this excerpt from MTA's Strategic Plan 2000-2002: "If Malta is to become a destination of choice, it must, through its offer, distinguish itself on the international market and promote the islands' uniqueness ... it is the combination of product components which make Malta unique ... MTA recognises the key contribution which Malta's cultural heritage makes to the unique value proposition."

Within this context, Malta's historic urban cores have a significant role to play. In a city-state no larger than a medium-sized European city, there are no fewer than four walled towns (or group of towns) which are visitor attractions - Valletta/Floriana, Vittoriosa/Cospicua/Senglea; Mdina/Rabat, Cittadella/Rabat.

Each has a diversity of urban spaces; each has an interesting story to tell; each provides exceptional views (the first two of the Grand Harbour; the latter two of the surrounding countryside). All four have impressive lines of fortifications reflecting the geography of the site and the history of warfare. In addition, Malta offers numerous village cores which have retained much of their quaint, historic character.

Urban regeneration- priority projects

A thorough discussion of urban regeneration issues relating to Malta's historic cores is beyond the scope of this paper. There are however several projects which are considered of crucial importance, when seen within the context to the tourism product.

Fort St Elmo is an extensive structure at the tip of Valletta. Its current state does not reflect the central role the fort had in Malta's history. Parts of the fort are unused and other parts are under-utilised or used badly. More important suitable uses need to be identified, which generate sufficient income to cover conservation costs. Appropriate reuse of the fort will generate increased commercial activity in its immediate surroundings and would therefore be instrumental in the regeneration of the lower part of Valletta.

The Connections project will provide ferry services from Sliema to Cottonera by means of a tunnel underneath Valletta. The regeneration of Cottonera is highly dependent on improving access. Connections would significantly improve access to Cottonera and be instrumental in the regeneration of the area. Connections would also improve access to Valletta, and reduce the use of cars to and from Valletta.

Dock No. 1 is strategically sited at the very 'heart' of Cottonera. The exclusion of people from the area and the state of the buildings undermines the image of Cottonera and its tourism potential.

The rehabilitation and use of Dock No. 1 and the buildings adjoining it are urgently required as part of the regeneration process. A pedestrian link connecting Vittoriosa to Senglea would bring a larger number of visitor attractions within walking distance to each other enhancing the attractiveness of the area.

The high number of vacant properties within historic cores needs to be addressed. The environment of some parts of Valletta is significantly poor largely because of empty properties. Legal and fiscal instruments are required to encourage initiatives aimed at bringing back vacant buildings into viable use.

The importance of historic urban cores was immediately recognised when the Product Planning and Development Directorate started operations three years ago.

MTA has no direct control over the product so the directorate developed working relations with other agencies which have an interest in historic cores, particularly the Restoration Unit of the Works Division and the then Museums Department (now Superintendency and Heritage Malta).

The directorate has been involved in several projects within historic cores, the most recent ones being the restoration of Inquisitor's Palace façade in Vittoriosa and Greeks' Gate in Mdina.

The directorate also took other initiatives including raising awareness of the relevance of historic cores for tourism, improving information for tourists and generating activity in historic cores.

The latest MTA initiative in relation to historic cores is the organisation of an international conference "Regeneration of historic urban cores - learning from experience" to be held next month.

In the Maltese context, the objective of the conference is to improve local skills and knowledge on urban regeneration - knowledge which will certainly come in useful in the coming years for work related to our historic cores.

Some people think that urban regeneration simply involves restoration projects. Whereas restoration projects are important, these alone are not enough to bring in new investment.

Urban regeneration is an ongoing process involving several environmental, social and economic initiatives. It requires in the first instance a proper understanding of the issues combined with creative thinking.

Finding appropriate uses for buildings in historic cores is often problematic. The reuse of existing buildings results in difficulties in reconciling the requirements of the new uses to the historic value of the building - what level of interventions would be permitted.

High renovation and maintenance costs of historic buildings could compromise the economic viability. Unless there is good public transport and effective traffic management, increased activity from regeneration will result in increased traffic impact.

More often than not urban regeneration is constrained by the operations of the property market combined with inadequate instruments for public agencies to intervene and facilitate regeneration.

A strategy is required, based on a mix of physical, economic, social, cultural and environmental initiatives, combined with holistic urban management.

The international conference will discuss these and other issues. Part of the conference programme will be dedicated to a presentation and a public debate on urban regeneration initiatives in Malta.

John Ebejer, BE&A (Hons), MA (Planning), A&CE, MRTPI, is an urban planning consultant with the Product Planning and Development Directorate of the Malta Tourism Authority.

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