1 comment.Tourist incentive scheme needs to cover Gozo self-catering sector – GTA
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The Gozo Tourism Association said that it has taken note of the two schemes launched by the Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo with the aim of attracting tourism to the Maltese Islands.
In a statement on Saturday, the Association pointed out that “whilst acknowledging the Governments’ efforts to support and restart the tourism sector, the Free Independent Travellers (FIT) scheme, which will be run by the MTA and intended to incentivise foreign visitors with an additional 10% add on if the visitors are bound for a Gozitan accommodation, covers only those bookings in the hotels.”
The Association however highlighted the fact that of all the Malta Tourism Authority licensed accommodation units in Gozo, only 25% are in the Hotels sector, while the other 75% are in the self-catering sector (farmhouses, villas, apartments etc.).
Therefore, it said, “through this scheme the independent travellers staying in the majority of the licensed accommodation in Gozo are not entitled for these incentives.”
Furthermore, as proposed, the GTA said that “this scheme will be beneficial only to those individual travellers who opt to stay in the 14 accommodation establishments that fall under the category of the Hotels in Gozo.”
The Gozo Tourism Association, on behalf of the self-catering owners and operators, called on the Government to “make the necessary adjustments to the proposed scheme, in a way that it covers and incentivises also the tourists who book their holidays in the self-catering sector.”
It concluded by saying that, “extending this scheme to cover all licensed accommodation in Gozo is ensuring a proper mix of quality accommodation. Meanwhile the Gozo Tourism Association is always available and open for further consultation and discussion on this matter.”
Photo by Alain Salvary
I believe that he scheme is offered for minimum of 3 days, so tourists can come through this scheme and stay 3 days on the mainland (or in Gozo. But let’s say in Malta so they see Malta) Then they could be offered free trips to Gozo and they can stay in Gozo for as long as they like booking in hotels, self catering etc. If they come to Gozo and stay at least 3 days they could be offered a free day tour of hop on hop off and a boat ride to Comino total of €25.00. Just a thought.