Valletta’s historic quays will host European Maritime Day 2013 on May 20. This year’s event is dedicated to maritime and coastal tourism, an apt theme for the Maltese capital, whose ports are being developed around tourism and maritime leisure.
Between 2001 and 2012, the number of cruise tourists visiting Malta rose from 175, 000 to 608, 786
When the Knights took possession of Malta in the early 16th century, its ports were the only advantage they saw in this cluster of arid islands lost in the middle of the Mediterranean. In fact, looking at a map of the archipelago, it’s almost as it was designed by nature itself, with its natural harbours, many beautiful coves that cut deep inland, sheltered from the waves, wind and enemies coming from the open sea.
Valletta is a product of this maritime and military heritage. Intent on placing themselves and their fleet out of their Ottoman enemy’s reach, the Knights founded a new fortified city on the peninsula that separates Malta’s two main ports, Grand Harbour in the south and Marsamxett in the north.
The result of building a new city from the ground up is a labyrinth of buildings, quays, warehouses, forts and walls, most of which date back to the 16th and 17th centuries. An austere and grandiose beauty emanates from this ochre-coloured, homogenous ensemble. Add to that a warm Mediterranean climate and a fascinating artistic heritage and it is easy to understand why Valletta is such an important tourist attraction. It is this asset the Maltese have decided to invest in when developing their capital’s port.
Until half a century ago, Grand Harbour was Malta’s principal port. It was used more as a military than a commercial port, thanks to its central location in the Mediterranean on the maritime route linking western Europe to the Middle East. When Great Britain took control of the island in 1800, the port became a key strategic staging post en route to India, a route that became entirely sea-based with the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869. It was not until the very end of the colonial period, in 1964, that Malta won its independence.
After the Second World War, the face of Malta’s port changed. Its military importance diminished and Grand Harbour’s configuration was not suited to hosting modern maritime freight. In the 1980s, a new commercial port came into operation in Marsaxlokk, in the southern part of the island. This more accessible and deeper port became Malta’s energy hub and the central Mediterranean hub for container traffic. In Grand Harbour, commercial activities dwindled to just a few quays dedicated to bulk cargo (construction materials, grain) and three repair and maintenance shipyards. Other infrastructure fell into disuse.
“Until around 10 years ago, you would never have come to stroll around this part of the port,” explains John Portelli, CEO of Valletta Cruise Port, referring to the Grand Harbour’s northern shore. The warehouses had partially collapsed. “The quay had become a motorway and was walled seaside. Nothing about it was pleasant.”
The port authorities quickly came to the conclusion that the future of Valletta’s two ports lay in tourism and maritime leisure. Visitors arriving there today see this immediately. They can still see cranes and cargo ships south of Grand Harbour, but their eyes are immediately drawn to the marinas filled with yachts and sailboats of all sizes, and by the comings and goings of tour boats making the rounds of the site and its surrounding areas. Visitors will also be amazed by the huge cruise ships anchored at the foot of the city walls, from which streams of tourists descend.
This development began in the 1980s when the first marina was built in Marsamxett and later in the early 1990s, when a quay was built to accommodate cruise ships. Within just a few years, the marina was overloaded and more and more cruise ships were making Valletta a port of call. The possibility of building new infrastructure therefore had to be considered. It was at this point that a strategic decision was taken.
“At the end of the 1990s, the government decided that the port authority should evolve from its role of operator to become a regulator,” explains Christopher Farrugia, senior infrastructure manager at Transport Malta, the government agency that manages Malta’s transport. It was decided that port operations should be privatised, starting with the cruise port, for which a 65-year concession was granted in 2001.”
The Valletta Cruise Port concession is not limited to port operations. It covers an area of nearly five hectares filled with 17th-century warehouses that are being renovated and developed by the operator. To date, €37 million has been invested in restoration and maintenance.
The result is what is now known as Valletta Waterfront, an urban development site that has won numerous international awards. Wharfs, shops, bars, restaurants and an impressive range of visitor-focused businesses and services such as banks, a tourism office, pharmacies and telecommunications services are available along a 300-metre promenade. The historic baroque architecture has been preserved in the renovation.
“This renovation kick-started the regeneration of the city and its port area,” says Portelli proudly. “All this restoration work started from what was done here.”
The rest of Grand Harbour has indeed followed this move to develop new uses for existing sites, encouraged by initiatives by other port concession holders. A new marina is being built on the creek in Vittoriosa, which will regenerate a neglected neighbourhood that nevertheless possesses first-rate attractions, such as Fort St Angelo and the National Maritime Museum. In 2006, the cargo terminal was redeveloped for a range of uses, in order to supplement the cruise liner port during peak periods.
Quays are being redesigned in Lascaris and Senglea, also to help increase ship accommodation capacity. In the future, the area currently occupied by the power station, which is nearing the end of its useful life, will also be restored and given new uses. Marsamxett is also participating in this development, specialising in leisure and passenger transport.
Meanwhile, Transport Malta is investing in infrastructure, with partial support from various European Union funds. The government agency wants to help revamp the city, which will benefit from its status as European Capital of Culture in 2018.
Historical infrastructure is being restored, including the lighthouse and the breakwater; links between the port and the city are being improved, with road repairs, the introduction of a hop-on/hop-off bus service and the installation of a lift providing direct access between the port and the city above. The latest development is the entry into service of two ferry lines to enable pedestrians to cross Grand Harbour and Marsamxett.
These investments have not only given fresh impetus to Malta’s port development, but they also have an economic impact. Between 2001 and 2012, the number of cruise tourists visiting Malta rose from 175, 000 to 608, 786. These tourists eat in restaurants, visit museums, discover tourist attractions and take excursions. According to the most recent statistics, cruise tourism generated €75 million in Malta in 2011 and €300 million over the past six years. Tourist activity has also led to the creation of 2,000 direct jobs, primarily in the capital.
The challenge now is to convince these tourists to stay longer than just one day, which is why Valletta Cruise Port will be promoting a stopover in Gozo, while Transport Malta is making it easier to reach the capital’s outlying areas and other tourist attractions on the island.
Valletta hosts European Maritime Day 2013
European Maritime Day will encompass a number of activities and conferences focused this year on coastal development and sustainable maritime tourism in the wider context of Blue Growth. These will take place on May 21 and 22 at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta.
For more information go to www.emd2013.gov.mt.