Accent on tourism in Gozo

Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono spoke yesterday of the focus being placed by her ministry on attracting tourism to the sister island, saying particular emphasis was being placed on employee training and the promotion of Gozo as a destination for diving.

She said that the investment made in the ferries, the harbour facilities and the helicopter service meant the Maltese and Gozitans and the tourism sector were better served.

Indeed, tourism was a priority for Gozo and that was why the Gozo Tourism Association had been set up.

Diving was seen as an attractive niche for tourism growth. Tenders for the building of a decompression chamber at Gozo Hospital had been issued and construction would start early next year. Tenders would also be issued soon for artificial diving sites. A total of Lm500,000 were being directed to market Gozo as a diving destination.

Other tourism-related investments included a training institute for tourism. Tenders had already been issued, a Mepa permit was being awaited and a tender had also been issued for a restaurant to be leased for temporary use.

Lm42,000 were being invested in restoration works at Brockdorff Circle while, at Ggantija, Lm36,000 from the EU solidarity fund were used for repairs after storm damage. A three-dimension scientific survey costing Lm16,500, the first of its kind to include a whole temple was also to be made.

Restoration works were also being carried out at the Citadella.

Turning to crafts, she said that work on the setting up of the first incubation centre had progressed. Other initiatives related to the certification and authentication of crafts made in Gozo.

The EU was helping to finance various works in Gozo, including business courses.

Mrs Debono said that although unemployment had increased, since 1996 the greatest number of people registering for work had been in 1997, the whole year of Labour administration. Attracting manufacturing investment in Gozo was becoming increasingly tough. Although investors were offered all sort of incentives, efforts were often thwarted by the time factor, and not just costs. The Xewkija Industrial Zone would in the future therefore be increasingly used for SMEs, artisans and crafts.

Referring to a point raised by Labour MP Justyne Caruana (see separate report), Mrs Debono said that the ENT service at Gozo hospital had stopped temporarily because the consultant had retired but the service had now been resumed.

Labour MP Anton Refalo had tried to give the impression that funds voted for Gozo were not being spent. This year Lm5.7 million were allocated to Gozo. Lm4 million were linked to EU pre- and post-accession projects and payments were being made according to contract. It was not true that Gozo had lost the millions mentioned by Dr Refalo.

Difficulties were sometimes encountered and one could not keep up with schedules and funds were transferred from one fund to another.

Lm6 million were being allocated for capital expenditure in Gozo compared to Lm1.2 million under Labour in 1998. This was apart from other funds directly allocated for Gozo but listed under other ministries.

The opposition tried to ridicule the government over the completion date of the Mgarr harbour project. Changes for the better had been required in this project, but the government would be giving the Gozitans the harbour terminal they deserved.

Reacting to opposition complaints that she referred parliamentary questions to other ministries, Mrs Debono said that although her ministry had the information required, House rules dictated that replies had to be given by the ministry directly responsible for the subject matter.

Mrs Debono said work on the drafting of a Social and Economic Development Plan for Gozo was continuing. The strategic priorities on which the plan was being drawn up were well known and highlighted in the 2005 budget.

The minister said Labour leader Alfred Sant last week had said that only seven companies in Gozo were assisted in the past five years to set up an enterprise in Gozo. This was misleading in that this only involved assistance from Malta Enterprise companies. A total of 165 new companies were registered in Gozo in the same period. This year there were 25 new companies and last year 50. Comparing 1997 to 2004, 12 companies had been registered in 1997 against 50 in 2004.

Reacting to other remarks by Dr Refalo, Mrs Debono said that while it was true that construction works on the communal centre in Victoria had not yet started, plans were being improved and she hoped works would start soon.

Although Gozo did not get funds for road building from the Italian financial protocol, it had been given funds from this protocol for agriculture. Gozo was allocated €9 million from EU funds for road works. Another Lm80,000 were to be used for the building of a by-pass to Mgarr harbour.

Lm50,000 had been allocated for the asphalting of residential roads at Victoria, Ghasri and Xewkija, among others. Although this would not all be spent this year it would be added to next year's allocation.

While comments had been made on the waste transfer station, it was worth pointing out how this government had rid Gozo of the Xaghra dump which was an eyesore and often used to catch fire.

She said that construction work on the slaughterhouse had been finished and the Contracts Department was currently adjudicating the tender for equipment and ancillary services. The minister said that other work this year included extensive cleaning at Marsalforn valley, the refurbishement of schools and refurbishment of the hospital.

Nationalist MP Frederick Azzopardi, who spoke before the minister, said that the government was reaching its aims and reducing the deficit. This was no mean achievement but a lot still needed to be done.

Since Malta's only resource was the human resource, the government was investing heavily in education and training. Gozo too had benefited, the latest development being the opening of two Mcast centres. Gozo needed its own economic development for the creation of wealth and employment. Over the past 16 years of Nationalist administration Gozo was given a new look. A large number of businesses had opened and there was also heavy investment in real estate and tourism. Mr Azzopardi said significant government investment was being made on the sewage treatment plant at Ras il-Hobz, new roads and harbour facilities. There were ambitious projects for the restoration of unique temples such as Ggantija. The hospital was being modernised, as was the abbatoir.

Gozo was also prominent in advertising abroad by the Malta Tourism Authority.

He said the government was offering generous incentives for employers in Gozo. Students too were enjoying a higher allowance because of having to cross to Malta to study.

Mr Azzopardi said that Gozo was going through difficulties in the jobs sector. He saw potential for Gozo for back office services.