by Dr Hans-Rudolf Neumann
As part of a FORTE CULTURA pilot tour to Malta and Gozo, initial contacts were made with the Maltese state heritage organisation HERITAGE MALTA. The participants of the pilot tour, who came from four European countries, were impressed by the renovation and restoration work carried out on the fortifications in Malta and Gozo.
These endeavours, which are still ongoing, were particularly successful in 2006
The project was carried out until 2016 with funding from the European Union, the state government fund and private investment. For example, the Manoel Citadel in Gżira alone was renovated by a private property consortium at a cost of around 60 million euros.
The Chief Manager of the two state-owned forts St. Elmo and St. Angelo, Matthew Balzan, and Senior Executive Marketing & Sales, Ryan Vella, both from HERITAGE MALTA, welcomed the group to Fort St. Elmo and explained the refurbishment work carried out in the presence of architect Ruben Abela.
The existence of a European cultural route was noted with great interest; it was promised that the documents brought along on FORTE CULTURA would be presented to the responsible board with regard to membership. Overall, it should be noted that the Maltese are aware of their historical fortress heritage and are making every effort to preserve it.
Certified Guide
Due to her commitment to the FORTE CULTURA pilot tour to Malta and Gozo, the local guide Nynke van Ek was awarded the "Certified Guide" badge of honour by the co-founder of the cultural route, Dr.-Ing.
She was also presented with a book documenting last year's pilot tour to Gibraltar. All the participants were delighted with her daily commitment to a previously unknown subject.
Mrs van Ek confirmed that there is a great future for progressive cultural tourism in Malta. As an alternative and gentle form of tourism, this could develop into a real enrichment of Malta's already rich cultural programme in the long term. It would be important to have a central contact point to coordinate the individual objects and events. In cooperation with MaltaVisit, the Fortress Interpretation Centre would offer the most favourable conditions for this.
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