Film inspired tourism to Malta

Abstract

Film and television as media can exert a powerful influence on their audience. Recently, considerable attention has been paid on the role of films and televisions series, particularily in influencing individuals to visit specific destinations. In Malta various productions are filmed each year however, nothing has been done so far to use these films as a different form of tourism to attract more tourists or to offer a different experience to tourist. By focusing mainly on Popeye (1980), The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) and Munich (2005) this dissertation will identify if there is a potential for film inspired tourism to take place in Malta. This dissertation also seeks to find out the quality of the film inspired tourist experience in Malta. The method of rephotography was used to carry out the research. Rephotography allows space for investigation of identity and authenticity of the place. Finding has suggested that most of the places represented in these movies can be linked to the identity of film specific sites in Malta. The rephotographed images helped to show the difference in the locations from the image produced in the movies. This helped to evaluate the spatial identity of the Maltese film sites in such locations as well as to find to how these images can be linked to an emergent Maltese identity as these film location create the virtual corridors through the simulacra created by the cinematic-real spectacle. Issues of authenticity and recognition also emerged while analysing these photographic images. This research has shown that film inspired tourism is a valid form of tourism that would create new forms of tourist experience that the present tourism sector does not cater for yet.