Friday, 1st August 2008

Call for national plan for Gozo

Gozo has its own specific needs and, as such, required a national plan, the Gozo Chamber of Commerce and the Gozo Tourism Association told Labour leader Joseph Muscat.

The chamber spoke of the need to complete the Ċirkewwa terminal as passengers had to wait in miserable conditions. It also referred to the construction of an airstrip that would generate more employment and tourism to Gozo and an expanded marina in Mġarr for cruise liners, the MLP said.

The party quoted the association as saying that tourism in Gozo was facing a lack of employees despite the fact that the number of unemployed had gone up.

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Comments

John Mizzi (on 1/8/08)

Does GTA realize that its members are cancelling its membership because they feel that GTA does not have Gozo Tourism at heart? When or has has GTA surveyed Gozo tourists why they come to Gozo? The Gozo airport will damage tourism due to more precious land destroyed by concrete and much more noise pollution! Tourists come to Gozo because it is fairly quite and still much greener than Malta. Does GTA want to turn Gozo into Malta? Gozo Ministry sponsors GTA with financial and human resources. Is Gozo Ministry still in favour of a Major Gozo airport for small jets and if yes why?

Does GTA realize that is faster to drive to Cirkewwa and catching the ferry than waiting for the next plane to Gozo? Is this going to be another white elephant like the Gozo racecourse where it is in a derilict state and hardly ever used?

jo vella magro (on 1/8/08)

That Gozo requires a national Plan has been long known in certain circles but apparently those with the power to do something about it have remained mum. Although the Cirkewwa terminal has been in the pipeline for ages and it is well needed, its completion and a hypothetical airstrip in Gozo will not necessarily generate more tourism and consequently more employment for Gozo. As regards the expanded marina for cruise liners, a study should first be commissioned to see how much of a positive economical difference this will leave in Gozo; will the negative (ex. waste generated) be more than the positive(ex. increase in employment and a better image of Gozo?) What about the comment that the association is facing a lack of employees? Is this right? What about the vast amount of schoolleavers being employed in the tourism industry being paid peanuts and having no training whatsoever?Gozo needs its own plan and this has to come from qualified persons outside the tight community of entrepreneurs/restaurant and hotel owners.Gozo needs its own marketing plan apart from the Malta one. We need to decide for the long term sustainability of Gozo rather than the short term profitability of the few.