The Ministry for Gozo in collaboration with the German-Maltese Business Council within the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry and with the support of the German Embassy in Malta and the Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen, organised a business meeting about eco/rural tourism and sustainable business practices in the sector.

The event is part of a GMBC full day programme that started in Gozo, today, at Vini e Capricci and proceeds to Malta, in the afternoon.

Minister for Gozo Anton Refalo, welcomed this Eco Tourism Networking event. Minister Refalo noted that travellers value more the intrinsic experiences they can gain from destinations, as holidays move from packaged deals to planned stays according to their own special interest travel.

"There is surely great potential for the eco tourism sector in Gozo. Gozo has had successful stories with this business approach, though much potential remains untapped," he said.

Dr Refalo added that "the Ministry for Gozo believes that eco tourism is a sustainable form of further business development which can generate growth on this island. Gozo's well promoted tourism niches, namely rural, religious, diving and adventure tourism supported by a better organised local enogastronomic experience have the potential to sustain a growing eco tourism industry, with the added value of increasing destination awareness."

"Valuing what is local and encouraging sustainable growth, is an objective that we fully support and the Ministry for Gozo is there to help all stakeholders involved."

Our commitment, noted Minister Refalo "is to continue promoting this island, to strengthen an economic segment that contributes in no small way to the development of the island and to send a clear message to investors that they have our full support."

"Eco Tourism is about low impact tourism, with special interest on rural activity and which benefits and respects local communities. Gozo is often associated with this kind of tourism due to the environmental and cultural preservation the island has guaranteed, its rural characteristics and traditions, that together shape the island's unique identity," Dr Refalo said.

The Minister concluded by saying that "there is growing evidence that quality tourism is increasingly discerning as travellers seek more authenticity in their travel experiences. Businesses are fast learning that rural and ecological practises in tourism are opportunities with significant economic benefits. There are fine examples in Gozo of entrepreneurs who have been proactive and successful in grasping this change."

Photograph: MGOZ/George Scerri

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