Are there tourists amongst us? A participant-centred appraisal of an international competitive football tournament in Malta

Abstract

In Malta, there is an active history of both governmental and non-governmental organisations who strive to organise a variety of sports activities. Often, participation in sport, particularly among young persons, is seen as a means to enhancing participants' emotional self-regulation, self-esteem, and problem-solving capabilities, although it is also used as a crime-prevention strategy particularly in neighbourhoods which are characterised by crime and anti-social behaviour. This paper explores what football players, their coaches, and other officials who accompanied the young participants in an international football tournament, specifically the Union of European Football Association (UEFA) Under-17 tournament, believe they derived from this tournament. It also explores the manner in which different teams and cultures portray themselves, and the wider social and cultural influences that are believed to have a bearing on their perceptions. The paper is of particular interest to people who operate in the field of youth tourism since it promotes a greater understanding of the outcomes (personal, social, economic, etc.) that both local and foreign players, participating in a football tournament of international importance perceive as outcomes.