Strong winds, rain, and the colder weather did not deter the thousands of people who visited Bethlehem f’Ghajnsielem over the weekend.
The Ministry for Gozo said that over the past four weeks over 74,000 visited the Nativity Village, up until its closure on Sunday evening with the Adoration of the Magi.
The Minister for Gozo Dr Anton Refalo thanked the organising committee, the volunteers who worked on the village over the past few months, the media and the thousands of visitors who had attended over the four weeks, to make it such a success.
The Minister said in the coming months, Gozo will be advertised as a unique destination for the Christmas holidays, to enable tour operators to feature it in their brochures.
He added that between 14 December 2012 and 5 January 2013 Gozo Channel carried 200,079 passengers and 59,364 vehicles, this year so far the company has carried 279 806 passengers and 74 350 vehicle. Saturday 4 January 2014 was the day that most people crossed from Cirkewwa to Mgarr, with 15 827 passengers.
The Minister thanked all those who provided a service to those visiting the island in this period, including Gozo Channel employees, public transport workers, the Police, as well as members of the Emergency Response Rescue Corps (ERRC) who were present at Bethlehem f’Ghajnsielem during openin hours, for any emergency that might arise.
The fifth edition of Bethlehem f’Ghajnsielem, was organised by an action committee led by the Ghajnsielem Local Council with the support and assistance of the Ministry for Gozo and together with the local NGOs and Ghajnsielem Parish.