New book 'Bormla and its Tourism Potential' launched

A new book about Cospicua launched by the Malta Tourism Authority highlights the city’s potential for sustainable tourism.

‘Bormla and its Tourism Potential’ is a new Malta Tourism Observatory publication that showcases Bormla’s historical and cultural splendour, while highlighting this city’s immense potential for sustainable, value-added tourism experiences. 

Authored by Professor Godfrey Baldacchino, Engineer Paul R. Micallef, and Dr John Vella, the book is the latest in a series of publications by the Observatory within the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA).

The three authors, who all have a connection with Bormla, delve into various subjects, including why Bormla deserves to be better known, religion and pilgrimages in the city, its street niches and monuments, its military heritage and other cultural, social, and industrial aspects.

The book also includes a chapter with residents’ recommendations on the future of tourism in the locality, as well as a map, a treasure hunt and walking routes that help familiarise readers with the locality.

The book can be downloaded online for free. Photo: DOI/Daniel Scicluna

It was launched by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Ian Borg at the Bormla Local Council, on Friday afternoon.

Bormla, also known as Cospicua, is a fortified city in the Grand Harbour that forms part of the Three Cities, along with Vittoriosa and Senglea. It is fortified by the Santa Margherita Lines and Cottonera Lines.

Borg said the new publication will contribute towards adding value to the tourism offering of Malta’s various communities.

“We stand ready to continue helping local councils and other stakeholders in the development of such high-value tourism initiatives,” the minister said.

Bormla mayor Marco Agius said the book “places more responsibility on the local council to work even harder to continue enhancing all that Bormla has to offer.”

Carlo Micallef, Chair of the Observatory and the Chief Executive Officer of the MTA, lauded the Observatory for this initiative. “Publications like this show very clearly that Malta possesses numerous localities full of tourism potential, such as Bormla, which have the opportunity to tap into the industry in a sustainable manner,” he said

 MTA Deputy Chief Executive Officer and the editor of the Observatory’s series of publications Leslie Vella explained that limited printed editions of ‘Bormla and its Tourism Potential’ will be distributed to libraries and offices directly related to the subject.

The book, and other publications in this series, can also be downloaded free of charge from the Observatory’s website.