The Gozo Tourism Association and the Gozo Business Chamber have said that local wardens should have adopted a preventive approach rather than resorting to the issuing of fines during the Santa Marija holiday. “The lack of parking spaces in Victoria should not be borne by the visiting guests to Gozo.”

The GTA and GBC in a joint statement expressed their satisfaction for the number of visitors, both local and foreign who crossed over to Gozo at the weekend. Which, they said are the result of a sustained promotional campaign to market Gozo both with the local and foreign markets.

However, they said that as representatives of the majority of the Gozitan businesses, they are concerned that these efforts can easily be marred, “by irrational decisions.”

The two organisations said that they are all out for law and order, and support all decisions taken in this regard. Adding however, that did not agree with the way traffic contravention fines were issued yesterday on the Public Holiday, especially in Victoria.

“It is a known fact that the Gozitan capital lacks enough parking spaces to cater for the needs of the Gozitan community. Therefore more common sense was expected from the Local Wardens on the busiest day of the year, when the island is hosting such an additional number of guests with their vehicles.”

The GTA and GBC said that they both believed that the “these visitor numbers contributed substantially to the Gozitan economy and proved once again that the synergised efforts by all stakeholders concerned continue to reap the desired results.”

Both the Gozo Tourism Association and the Gozo Business Chamber gave thanks to Gozo Channel, and its employees, for the ferry service offered during these days of the peak season, adding that it encouraged all the competent authorities to “continue seeking the common good in favour of our Island… Gozo.”

Photograph by Alain Salvary

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