A wish list for Gozo's tourism

This year, the number of nights spent on Gozo declined from 58.7 to 47 per cent. The average length of stay decreased from 4.6 to 4.3 nights. These are very dismal figures indeed.

Why is Gozo not selling? Is there enough advertising where Gozo's potential is adequately publicised? Now Gozo is to have a new tourism training complex, which is good news indeed, but are tourists coming over?

Gozo's economy now rests on tourism, but it is still getting a small fraction of the whole basket from mainland Malta. For Gozo, it seems, time stands still. Do we have adequate services to cater for tourists?

The Gozo Tourism Association rightly pointed out the need to have a separately funded tourism authority, better sea passenger facilities, and a better air link between the islands as soon as possible.

Why are the authorities so stingy when it comes to investing in Gozo? Why are they dragging their feet when it comes to deciding to have a properly functioning air strip to get fixed-wing aircraft operating between the islands?

There is a need for it - although some correspondents show statistics and figures to torpedo the project. With that kind of reasoning, one could have done away with the building of the new ferries or the construction of the Cirkewwa and Mgarr quays.

Will Gozo benefit from the EU structural funds which are now available for the islands? The Gozo airstrip certainly qualifies; the area involved is nothing but a huge rubbish dump. So far we had nothing but lame excuses from the authorities.

I call on all Gozitans to wake up and show their mettle, to be Gozitans first and toe their party line second. I appeal to hoteliers, restaurant owners, business people, the man in the street to work together for a better Gozo.

This is my wish list for the new year. The politicians, especially the Gozitan MPs, had better make a new year resolution to make themselves heard better where Gozo's needs are concerned. We Gozitans expect that.

We need that airstrip, the golf course, the yacht marina, berthing facilities for cruise liners, and the much awaited completion of the Cirkewwa and Mgarr quays. Only then, maybe, will Gozo tourism revise.