The Agenda of the Gozo Tourism Assoication’s 14th Annual General meeting held recently, included an address by the Chairman of the Association, Mr Paul Scicluna, the Administrative report by the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Joe Muscat, and the Financial report by the Treasurer, Mr Mark Busuttil.
The meeting was also addressed by the Minister for Gozo, Giovanna Debono, Dr Mario de Marco, Minister for Tourism, Culture & the Environment, and Dr Gavin Gulia, LP Spokesman for Tourism. Chev. Maurice Mizzi, Director and Ms. Marie Josette Vella Magro, Gozo Branch Manager of Banif Bank Malta, official GTA’s sponsors, delivered a presentation.
In his opening address GTA Chairman Mr Paul Scicluna said that notwithstanding the increase of foreign tourist arrivals in 2011 over those in 2010, this increase was almost neutralised by decreases in arrivals from the domestic market.
Mr Scicluna stressed that the authorities concerned need to address the particular challenges faced by the Gozitan tourism sector particularly in strenghtening tourism niches and specialised niches that can attract more tourists in the lean and shoulder months while opening horizons on other markets. Mr Scicluna also mentioned accessibility to the Island and stated that GTA is in favour of more accessibility options especially through an airlink.
Mr Scicluna continued by saying that incentive schemes for the Domestic market together with the introduction of seasonal fares by the Gozo Channel Company would also increase the attraction of more domestic tourists. The GTA chairman stated that the Association will continue with its lobby for a reform in the self-catering licenses and standards, as well as for the collating of accommodation statistics in relation with this important accommodation sector on Gozo whilst also pointing out that the regionality and rurality of Gozo should be taken into consideration whenever schemes for touristic improvements are launched.
The GTA’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Joe Muscat delivered a presentation detailing the administrative operations of the Association during 2011.
In an overview of the Gozitan touristic performance during last year based on statistics for 2011 published by NSO, he said the number of foreign tourists who stayed in Gozo registered an increase of 1391 arrivals over 2010 signifying an increase of 4%. On the other hand when compared with 2010 arrivals from the domestic market in 2011 dropped by 1261.
Mr Muscat said that considering the increase and positive performance of arrivals on a national basis, these results clearly indicate that a concentrated effort by all stakeholders needs to be done in promoting the island of Gozo as a distinct destination. During his presentation Mr Muscat gave a detailed report of the work undertaken by the association during the course of the past year that also included the resumption of the publication of Let’s Gozo, which directly targets visitors from the mainland.
During this AGM it was announced that the Gozo Tourism Association will receive financial assistance from the Ministry for Gozo, to enable the setting up of an on-line booking portal on the Association’s web site, which will be used for the benefit of all stakeholders who are also members of the GTA. This will also give more strength to the association’s endeavours for the benefit of the Gozitan tourism industry.
During the AGM the GTA also announced the members who will be constituting the GTA council for 2012, mainly Mr Noel Attard (Kempinski Hotel & Spa), Ms Monica Borg (Ta’ Cenc Hotel), Mr Mark Busuttil (St. Andrews Divers Cove), Mr Anthony Cassar (Ulysses Aparthotel), Mr Ludgard Gatt (Tamarisk Properties), Mr Mario Loporto (Gozo Village Holidays), Mr Joe Muscat (Down Town Hotel), Mr Joe Rapa (Ta’ Salvina Restaurant), Mr Paul Scicluna (Gozo Farmhouses), Ms Pauline Spiteri (Mario’s rent a car), Mr Philip Spiteri (Il-kartell Restaurant), Mr Amand Veranneman (Chez Amand) and Mr Jamie Zammit (VJB Enterprises).
Other distinguished guests present for the Annual General Meeting, included Labour Party Spokesperson for Gozo Dr. Anton Refalo, Mr. Josef Formosa Gauci, MTA CEO, Chev Maurice Mizzi Director Banif Bank, Mr. Claudio Grech ETC CEO, Ministry for Gozo and Malta Tourism Authority officials, other guests and GTA members from the various sectors of the Gozitan Tourism Industry.