Government underlines commitment to tourism development in Gozo, Bugibba

The tourism secretariat this afternoon denied claims by the opposition spokesman for tourism that the government was not showing enough commitment for the touristic development of Gozo and the Qawra-Bugibba area.

The secretariat pointed out that Gozo is benefiting from various major infrastructural projects, such as new roads and the new ferry terminal, opened recently. Furthermore the authorities were holding various initiatives which made the sister island more attractive to tourists and Maltese visitors, the latest being Gozo 1234 which had seen 80,000 Maltese crossing over for the purpose

The Bugibba-Qawra area had also seen recent investment on a new perched beach and ongoing maintenance of the promenade from St Paul’s Bay to Bugibba. Various activities were being held in Bugibba and Qawra throughout the year by the Malta Tourism Authority and more infrastructural projects were earmarked for the zone. Some will be partly funded by the EU.

The secretariat pointed out that tourist arrivals in the first quarter of this year were up 22 percent over the same period last year. Tourist nights were up 13 percent and earnings from tourism had climbed by almost 5%.

The secretariat said that while such figures were encouraging, success for the tourism industry depended on the commitment and cooperation of all the stakeholders. The government, however, was committed to ensuring that access to Malta and the Maltese tourism product continued to improve.

Comments

Herman Mizzi (2 days, 16 hours ago)

What investment? what maintenance? Bugibba and St. Paul's Bay are neglected as they never have been. The promenade road needs resurfacing badly as most secondary roads, public cleansing needs urgent improvement and collection of domestic waste is not done until late morning. Building sites are everywhere. We need to pull our socks up and seriously start embellishing these tourist areas.

Mark Sciriha (2 days, 17 hours ago)

Can the Government please also underline whether it is committed to tourism non-development in Marsascala? After the removal of its tourism-zone status some years back, the upgrading of the recycling plant, the closure of the Jerma, and the impending siting of fish farms off Zonqor Point, is tourism development in Marsascala officially over?