A number of pupils attending the Gozo College Boys Secondary, recently had the opportunity to take part in a week long job shadowing experience as budding journalists.

This was made possible through the support of the Malta Tourism Authority's Gozo Office and the Young Reporters for the Environment Programme run by Nature Trust Malta.

Besides being given some training about interviewing, article writing, photography and videography, the students accompanied the Malta Tourism Authority's officials on their out-of-office duties to actually experience their role.

During the job-shadowing exercise, the students, accompanied by Ms Marvic Refalo, the teacher coordinating the FEE programmes in Gozo, went out in the countryside to try out some photography and spent a day at Dwejra where they had the opportunity to assist the MTA Enforcement Officers during inspections carried out on diving operators and spot checks on tourist guides.

The students had the opportunity to interview tourists about their opinions of Gozo and sustainable practices. The group was also taken to a hotel in Gozo where they were given details of the work related to the running of the hotel and other information regarding the hotel's eco-certification.

During a visit to the Malta Tourism Authority offices in Victoria, they were provided with information about the role of the MTA as the entity which works for the promotion and the improvement of the tourism industry, the responsibilities of the Gozo office, MTA's work with international journalists and the promotion of Gozo as a destination.

The last day of the job-shadowing exercise provided the students with an opportunity to attend the CHOGM Young Citizens' Summit organised by EkoSkola in Collaboration with the CHOGM taskforce, the President's Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society and the Office of the Prime Minister.

Students had the opportunity to take photos of the event and interview personalities including the President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca and the Prime Minister Dr Joseph Muscat.

MTA's CEO Mr Paul Bugeja said that MTA is seeking to actively support schools to help them increase their students' exposure to the tourism industry.

Mr Bugeja added that this exercise was initiated last year in Gozo as a pilot study and feedback from the students and the teachers was very positive; this initiative should lead the way for similar initiatives to eventually take off also in Malta.

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