Tourism association criticises enforcement measures

The Gozo Tourism Association has said that it has always expressed itself in favour of regulatory measures, but described the way enforcement measures were effected in the popular resorts of Marsalforn and Xlendi last Wednesday and Thursday as anything but civil.

Officers from the Lands Department in conjunction with MTA officials, aided by the police and workers from the Works Department, raided each and every catering establishment operating on the Marsalforn front.

The association said the enforcement operation took the whole evening practically from 7 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. Patrons were, obviously, subject to great inconvenience, the association claimed. Apart from the inappropriate time and period chosen to carry out this enforcement operation, "one must also mention the uncouth way in which some of the works were carried out. Diners were showered with sparks emitted by grinding equipment. The operation also provoked an exchange of words between the officers and the owners in front of all diners and passers-by".

The association said it acknowledged the fact that all catering establishments had been advised from early June that enforcement would be implemented in the following weeks. However, it felt that the way the operation was carried out was totally unethical, causing unnecessary havoc and projecting a totally unprofessional image of the tourism industry in Gozo.

The association appealed to all operating tourist establishments in Gozo to abide by their respective licences and permits. It also urged the authorities to practise what they preach to safeguard the tourism industry.