GTA Budget 2025 proposals highlight overdevelopment on Gozo

The Gozo Tourism Association has put forward its Budget 2025 proposals on “upholding and supporting the island’s distinctiveness” to the Government.

The GTA highlighted that tourism on the Island region of Gozo is facing several challenges. “While all National and Regional policies and strategies are pointing and directing towards a distinct destination, focusing on particular niche markets based on the island’s unique selling propositions, yet the tourism sector is very much concerned that the overdevelopment on Gozo is jeopardising and lambasting the core of these tourism values.”

The Association stressed that “these overdevelopments, mostly for residential purposes, is impacting negatively the character of our little island, a proposition on which the tourism sector has been for years marketing and promoting Gozo with, as well as creating trends which are not naturally touristic.”

The proposals include among others, to improve and equip landing places for cruise tenders in Xlendi, Marsalforn ix-xatt l-Ahmar and Hondoq ir-Rummien.

Also included is the building of a new fourth ferry identical to the existing ones to replace the Nikolaus. To introduce an integrated SMART ticketing system which allows persons to commute on different transport modes with a single common ticket (Fast ferry service, Gozo Channel Service and Malta Transport Service).

With regards to human resources, “in order to entice foreign staff retention, amend the legislation so that once TCN employees quit their job, they need to reapply from the beginning through their prospective employer in order to obtain afresh their work permit,” the GTA said.

The Gozo Tourism Association said that it “sincerely hopes that these Budget 2025 proposals are taken on board in order to streamline, sustain and consolidate the tourism industry on Gozo.”

These proposals, which are shown below, “are the result of the continuous contact between the Gozo Tourism Association and its member operators within the tourism sector,” it said.

Proposed Budget Measures on inter-island connectivity

Retain, improve and sustain the fast ferry service which can also assist in attracting to Gozo other niche tourists.

Build a new fourth ferry identical to the existing ones to replace the Nikolaus. Commence the development of the Airfield for the fixed wing airlink between Gozo and Malta.

Introduce an integrated SMART ticketing system which allows persons to commute on different transport modes with a single common ticket (Fast ferry service, Gozo Channel Service and Malta Transport Service).

Improve berthing and welcoming facilities, as well as introduce first-aid paramedic in case of emergencies for cruise ships and their passengers Identify, improve and equip landing places for cruise tenders in Xlendi, Marsalforn ix-xatt l-Ahmar and Hondoq ir-Rummien.

Proposed Budget Measures on the Environment

Develop new regional plan and policies specifically designed for Gozo to preserve it as an island of villages within a modern world.

Retain the existing incentives on sale and purchase of properties in UCA where the purchaser signs a guarantee to restore the property without subdivision.

Extend the incentives in all vernacular and post-war properties including UCA where buyer undertakes to preserve the integrity of the property, respecting and not exceeding the surrounding traditional village heights.

Introduce a fiscal incentive scheme to encourage the restoration and conversion of existing traditional properties and bring them back to life as residential homes, boutique hotels.

Establish a marine reserve around the Gozitan coast and ensure its enforcement, applying the model of the Cirkewwa marine reserve.

Proposed Budget Measures on the Tourism Product

Ringfence the ECO contribution collected from Gozitan accommodation establishments to be invested in product upgrading like kitting up areas for the diving community.

A larger hyberbaric oxygen therapy chamber at the Gozo General Hospital.

Ensure and enforce the right of access to the diving sector for the shoreline on the North and North west of Gozo.

Allocate funds to start implementing the actions for the Gozitan diving sector as listed in the Diving Strategy for the Maltese Islands.

The VAT applicable for admission to shows, theatres, fairs, amusement parks, concerts, museums, cinemas, exhibitions and similar cultural events and facilities should be reduced from 18% to 7%.

Implement in full the Master Plans for Marsalforn and Xlendi.

Develop an underground multilevel parking space in Victoria to alleviate the lack of parking spaces and lessen traffic going around the capital looking for parking space.

Introduce Specific initiatives for the preservation and promotion of Gozo’s cultural and heritage sites, which could include partnerships with international heritage organisations.

Fast track the amendments to the Tourism Act 1999 to reflect the new trends in tourism establishments.

Introduce a tailor-made Tourism Investment Support Scheme (TISS), to entice local entrepreneurs to upgrade their Gozitan tourist establishments. Such scheme can be financed and piloted by the Ministry for Gozo and in collaboration with the Ministry for Tourism.

The competent authorities are urged to amend the summer construction break time directive. GTA propose that excavation and demolition works be prohibited within a 50-meter radius of any Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) licensed premises. This directive should extend across the entirety of Gozo, rather than being confined to a select few streets.

Proposed Budget Measures for Human Resources

Introduce a grant scheme for local students who opt to work during the weekends or their holidays in Gozitan tourism establishments weekends or their holidays in Gozitan tourism establishments.

Organise courses targeting foreign employees to learn the basics of the Maltese and English Language, as well the history, culture and basic legal regulations of the Maltese Islands.

Set up a scheme to assist employers and employees to attend a comprehensive list of training courses, covering a wide range of topics tailored made for Gozitan touristic needs including the upskilling of staff to address todays’ demands and technologies.

In order to entice foreign staff retention, amend the legislation so that once TCN employees quit their job, they need to reapply from the beginning through their prospective employer in order to obtain afresh their work permit.

Introduce National Insurance contribution credit for the winter months in order to encourage retention of employees during off-peak months.

Develop the ITS Gozo Campus into a specialised vocational tourism institution that caters not only for Gozitans but also for Maltese and foreign students who opt to follow specific courses.

Ensure that the Public Sector is no longer in competition with the Private Sector for the recruitment of employees by offering favourable and unmatchable working conditions. The touristic private sector is to be encouraged to introduce flexible working hours offering favourable conditions and incentives for career progression within the tourism sector.

File photo/DLHGh