The impact of Arab spring on travel and tourism : a case study of Malta

Abstract

As a result of the modern progress and growth in the information technology sector, global tourism has experienced evident mutations. The tourism sector has witnessed decline, especially in several Arab countries specifically Malta. Over the years, investigations have been done on the impact of Arab Spring on Malta. The Arab spring is seen as one of the factors that has impacted on the travel and tourism sectors in Malta. The Arab spring crisis began in 2010 in Tunis against demonstrations and bureaucratic which later spread to Syria, Libya, Yemen, Egypt, and Bahrain. Additionally, there was a shift of balance of power in the North Africa and the Middle East. There was also a wave of protests in the Arab countries that galvanized many countries in the region, resulting in a sharp drop in tourism particularly. In most of these countries, there was a loss of billions of dollars. A research done by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) showed that the global tourist is the Middle East has experienced a decline of 8.4 percent. The research proposal discusses the impact of the Arab Spring on travel and tourism in Malta. Additionally, it will analyse the occupancy rate during the Arab Spring revolution. The causes and the impact of the Arab Spring revolution will also be analysed in the paper. Moreover, it will analyse the instability and insecurity in Malta and the search for alternative destinations for the tourists.