The Gozo Business Chamber has reiterated the importance of the introduction of a fast ferry service for Gozo.

In a statement, the Chamber said that although it maintains that the permanent link between Gozo and Malta “remains the best option, the Chamber has always highlighted that Gozo should be connected through all the best options possible.”

It pointed out that “obviously this requires a wider vision and strategy for transport between the two islands, including the need to plan on the infrastructural limitations currently posed by the Mgarr harbour.”

The Chamber went on to say that the fast ferry was part of the electoral manifesto of the present Government in 2017 whereby it was highlighted that with the introduction of this service people would travel between Gozo and the Grand Harbour in Valletta in less than forty five minutes.

“The target of this service was to offer a more comfortable service between the two islands for those who travel frequently between Gozo and Valletta,, said the Chamber, “while reducing traffic significantly between the two islands (Partit Laburista, L-Aqwa Zmien ta’ Pajjizna. Manifest Elettorali 2017, p.56).”

The Chamber argued that the proposed “hop on hop off conventional ferry service as indicated in the Request for Proposals document does not address this need.”

To this end the Chamber called on the Government to review its decision on the fast ferry service between the two islands. “This was a service which was already offered in the past but which had been terminated,” it said.

The Chamber concluded by saying that “the fast ferry service would ensure further connectivity and peace of mind to both commuters and other persons travelling between the two islands. A conventional ferry service would not address these needs.”

Photo by Alain Salvary

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