Announced measures in the short term will be beneficial for Gozo – GTA

by Gozo News · June 8, 2020

Announced measures in the short term will be beneficial for Gozo - GTA The Gozo Tourism Association has welcomed the announcement of measures drawn up to help the economy recover from the impact of Covid-19.

The Association, in a statement this evening, said that the measures will be extending further assistance to the tourism sector to overcome the covid effect.

“Being so dependent on tourism, the Gozitan economy was badly hit during the past months,” the GTA said, “therefore the announced measures in the short term will be beneficial for Gozo.”

It went on to say that the extension of the wage supplement up to the end of September, the reduction of the utility bills from July to September, the waiving off MTA licenses for 2020, and the rent subsidies are measures that will assist the tourism establishments to mitigate the Covid-19 effects.

The Association noted that the €100 voucher which is to be spent mostly in touristic establishments, will help boost internal tourism through which Gozo is expected to benefit substantially, as it is already a favourite destination with the domestic market.

“As realistically expected, although the announced measures will not reinstate the tourism sector to pre-Covid, these will however certainly boost the tourism industry especially on Gozo, whilst sustaining the establishments in their operation and in the retention of their workforce,” the GTA said.

Whilst noting that some of the measures covered its proposals, the Gozo Tourism Association said that it believed that the “Covid effects were unprecedented for tourism and through these measures the Government announced effective initiatives that will sustain the tourism sector especially on Gozo to recover, restart and re-establish itself as one of the main economic drivers on the Island.”

In conclusion, the Gozo Tourism Association said that it believes that a “long-term tourism strategy for post Covid-19, is to be embarked upon immediately, with the participation of all concerned stakeholders.”