The Tourism and Economic Development Directorate within the Ministry for Gozo has launched a scheme to assist dive centres in Gozo.

It said that the diving sector in Gozo is one of the strongest tourism niches on the island. 28,346 divers stayed in Gozo for one night or more generating 214,656 nights during 2014. The average length of stay in Gozo was 7.6 nights. The average expenditure per person during their stay amounted to € 416.19. In 2014 Gozo was visited by 77.4% of diving tourists. Day trippers accounted for 64% of this number.

“Diving is an important tourism niche for the island of Gozo as many tourists are attracted by the number of quality diving sites being offered, which include both natural and man-made attractions, such as the number of scuttled wrecks along the island’s coast,” the Directorate said.

It added, that the private sector has catered adequately for this segment with the development of a number of dive- centres, and has also helped build and enhance Gozo’s reputation as an international diving destination.

“The Government believes that this niche still presents considerable potential for growth, and that the private sector with its knowledge of this particular segment is aware of the potential that this market can still fulfil.”

To this end, the Ministry for Gozo said that it has launched this scheme to help dive- centres in Gozo continue with their marketing efforts internationally.

To find out the information on the criteria to participate in the scheme, together will full details of what is available please see here.

There is also a scheme available from the Ministry for Gozo, for supporting marketing initiatives in specific niche markets, For full information please see here.

All applications, together with the state aid declaration form, should be sent by not later than this coming Thursday, the 31st of March, at 5.00pm.

Soft copies of the said application and documents can be sent on dted.mgoz@gov.mt However, the original hard copies should still be forwarded on the address below:

Tourism and Economic Development Directorate,

Ministry for Gozo,

Saint Frances Square,

Victoria, Gozo.

Photo by Alain Salvary: Divers at Wied il-Ghasri

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