World heritage for Dwejra ? an analysis of stakeholders' opposition to the Qawra/Dwejra Management Plan

Abstract

The primary aim of the Qawra/Dwejra EU LIFE project is to improve this site for a better management of tourism and a more adequate preservation of the environment. The purpose of such a project should be to unite all the stakeholders with the authorities so they can decide on a proper management plan. However, this was not the case at Dwejra. In the stakeholders answer to the questionnaires that were distributed among them, it was revealed that they do not approve the management plan. The study then focuses on one particular type of stakeholders at Dwejra whose livelihood extensively depends on their activities in the area - the diving schools operators. In order to obtain a clearer picture of what diving tourists seek at a diving site, a questionnaire was conducted amongst these divers. The results indicated that the place is magnificent for diving but lacks diving facilities. On the other hand, diving school operators identified this failing, but, it was discovered that there were also other issues proposed by the Steering Committee in the management plan that greatly irritated them. Other than that, they claimed that their proposals and alternatives for the management plan were being ignored. From the interview carried out on diving school operators, the study found out that most of the opposition these stakeholders were expressing was due to the Steering Committee's negative attitude towards them. The Steering Committee's high handed approach, especially from the MEPA's side and lack of communication with the stakeholders were the main motives that caused the stakeholders' lack of credibility and mistrust towards the authorities which consequently resulted in the great hostility and opposition towards the project itself.