Government vouchers extended until end of October – €2.4 million used in Gozo

by Gozo News · September 11, 2021

The use of €100 government vouchers has been extended to the end of October – more than €33 million in vouchers have been used so far.

So far 74% of the total number of vouchers have been used. Of the €33 million, €30.6 million were used in Malta while €2.4 million were used in Gozo.

This was announced by Minister for the Economy and Industry Silvio Schembri while visiting Marsalforn restaurants, with Minister for Gozo Clint Camilleri.

Minister Schembri provided details on the use of vouchers so far, which can be redeemed at hotels, restaurants, shops, and in services.

Schembri added that “to date, €10 million out of €12 million in digital vouchers have been used, 83.3% of the amount of downloaded digital vouchers, while €23 million have been used out of €32 million of printed vouchers, meaning 71.9% of the number of printed vouchers,” explained Minister Schembri.

3.58 million vouchers were issued to 447,669 people for the value of €44.77 million. Of these, 117,485 people downloaded their vouchers digitally while 330,184 people preferred printed vouchers.

The distribution of postal vouchers in Malta and Gozo ended on the 5th of July. 300,757 vouchers were mailed or collected as well as 29,425 vouchers that have yet to be collected.

The Economy Minister went on to explain that the vouchers were mostly used in July, with €774,000 used on the 10th of July. During the weekends, the average use of vouchers amounts to €1.37 million per week while during the week, i.e., Monday to Thursday, the average use of vouchers is €1.22 million. This means a direct economic injection of €2.6 million per week.

Schembri said “the voucher scheme is generating strong economic activity which is serving as an important cornerstone for economic regeneration, particularly on the domestic front. The vouchers themselves are an important tool for the direct participation of the public to regenerate the economy and continue with our plan to protect businesses and safeguard jobs.

Minister for Gozo Clint Camilleri said that “looking at the restaurants they visited, it was clear that the vouchers given by the government for another year helped local businesses, from hotels to restaurants and other shops, helping them to continue with their operations during the pandemic.”

He added that, “This summer, in Gozo alone €2.4 million were spent on vouchers. From Friday, the 3rd of September to Wednesday, the 8th of September (Victory Day) more than 98,000 people crossed the channel via Gozo Channel. I can also announce that during July and August almost a million people crossed the channel through the Gozo Channel”.

The two ministers were accompanied by the Gozo Tourism Association and the Gozitan Chamber of Commerce as well as Mimcol Chief Executive Stanley Mifsud.