Community Based Tourism: Myth or Reality?

The Malta Tourism Society in association with the I.T.T.C. (Institute for Travel Tourism and Culture) has organized a conference about Community Based Tourism on the 16th of December to discuss this new concept of tourism that is spreading out and getting more and more interest at global level. It is one of the main recent alternatives to mass tourism and it is becoming so popular since it can offer the tourist an authentic experience during which they can meet the locals and discover their traditions. The conference intends to investigate the main aspects that characterise CBT, by analysing the points of weakness and strength of this practise, in order to understand the real potential that projects linked to this issue can have in the future scenario of the local tourism development on the island PROGRAMME 09.00 - 09.15 Prof. Andrew Jones, Director Institute for Travel, Tourism and Culture. 09.15 - 09.30 Mr. Julian Zarb, Project Coordinator and Researcher - Introduction of the CBT concept. 09.30 - 10.30 Prof. Calderon Vazquez Francisco Jose – University of Malaga - "Community Based and Relational Tourism, a tool for local development? An Economic approach to the Malaga (Spain) Experience". -------------------- COFFEE BREAK -------------------- 11.00 - 11.30 Mr. David Apap Agius - OBIMED Project in Gharb, the impact on the local community. 11.30 - 12.00 Professor George Cassar – Communities: A Key Factor for Tourism Today. 12.00 - 12.30 Dr. Marie Louise Mangion – Public Policy and Stakeholders in Tourism - FEMA. -------------------- LUNCH -------------------- 2.00 - 2.30 Dr. Marie Avellino - Socializing Tourism 2.30 - 3.00 Dr. Alfred Quintano – Brand Localities and Destinations 3.00 - 3.30 Mr. Adrian Mifsud, Director Local Government - The Future Development of Local Tourism Management and the Support by Government 3.30 - 3.45 Project coordinator’s conclusions and Conference Statement 3.45 - 4.15 Closing address by Hon. A. Borg (speaker of the opposition) and Mr Leslie Vella, Deputy CEO MTA on behalf of the Minister for Tourism