“More than € 3 million has been injected into the Gozitan economy thanks to innovative initiatives carried out by the Government. The Minister for Gozo, Dr Refalo stated this during a press conference on on the work of the Government in the field of tourism in Gozo during 2013.
The Minister announced that nine companies have been shortlisted from the original twelve, following the call for expression of interest issued last July for the development of a cruise liner terminal and berthing facilities, and a yacht marina in Gozo. The second stage of this process is now underway, which is the drafting of a request for proposals. “This is at an advanced stage and its details will be announced later,” Dr Refalo said.
He revealed that the Gozo Channel Company, in the first year, managed to reduce the €1.6 million loss it inherited in 2012, by more than half a million euros, (€600,000).
The Gozo Minister said that this was achieved through an increase in the number of passengers and vehicles using Gozo Channel during 2013. There was an increase of over 304 052 passengers on 2012, and an increase of 94,303 vehicles. This means, Dr Refalo said, a record increase of 398,355 passengers on 2012. There was also an increase of 115 trip by Gozo Channel compared to the previous year.
Initiatives last year were aimed at the island’s unique elements, The Gozo Minister said, and last year the work of the Government focused on three areas for tourism in Gozo: more effective promotion of the island to encourage tourist bookings: an increase in bed nights for tourists that visit the island: and, specifically to attract more tourists to the island.
The Minister explained that 2013 had seen an increase in the number of arrivals in hotels and guesthouses over the previous year. There was an 11.7% increase over 2012, and an increase in bednights of 12.6%.
Dr Refalo also spoke on the importance of domestic tourists to the island. For every foreign tourist to Gozo, there is also one domestic one. This contrasts with Malta where there is one domestic tourist for every nine foreign tourists. “So this Government recognised the importance of the domestic tourist viewing Gozo as an attractive destination for their vacation.”
2013 was a record year for domestic tourism, the Minister said, with an increase in domestic tourism for hotels and guesthouses. The records were measured in the arrivals area, and length of stay- bednights. 2013 arrivals saw an increase of 5.7 % over 2012 and an increase of 4.5% in bednights.
“The Government acknowledged that the island not only has the potential to be developed as a year-round tourist destination, but also to be advertised separately from Malta, as it has all the ingredients to attract high profile tourists,” the Minister said.
Dr Refalo added that “in the coming year the Government will continue to work hard to ensure that Gozo tourism is based on the concept of responsible tourism, fully respecting the environmental, economic, cultural and local traditions.”
He mentioned the primary initiatives organised by the Government aimed at domestic tourists, including the Free Travel to Gozo Weekend, Bethlehem f’ Ghajnsielem, and the Travel to Gozo Valentine Weekend Special. “Thanks to these initiatives not only has Gozo Channel carried record numbers, it also encourages operators to stop looking at Gozo as a place to invest for the summer months only, and therefore to consider creating employment all year round.”
Dr Refalo explained that “for the first time there is a direct impact of millions of euros invested back into the Gozitan economy, with the three above mentioned initiatives giving an injection into the economy of the island of over three million euros on the year 2012.”
Thus the economic cycle in Gozo during the slow winter months continued steadily, helping those operators and investors Gozo, the Minister said.
Dr Refalo concluded the conference by announcing that the Ministry for Gozo is working on other innovative initiatives for the coming period, aimed at continuing to put Gozo on the international map in the field of tourism, as well as to strengthen domestic tourism.