Friday, 1st August 2008 - 13:14CET

MEPA issues permit for cruise liner buoy off Xlendi

A cruise liner anchored off Xlendi.

MEPA has granted the necessary permits for a bouy for cruise liners off Xlendi, Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono has announced.

The facilities are expected to be in place within a few months although no specific date was given.

The laying of a bouy has been on the cards since 2006, when the Seabourne Pride anchored off Xlendi. Although a small number of other ships followed, their masters had complained that engines could not be switched off because the ships dragged anchor.

In September last year, then Transport Minister Censu Galea had said the government was developing plans to build a cruise liner quay on the outer part of the Mgarr breakwater in Gozo that would provide berthing facilities for 200-metre long liners, but nothing more was mentioned since.

Mrs Debono said today that the major challenges facing the tourism industry in Gozo were accessibility, marketing and seasonality, all of which were in the focus of the authorities. She pointed out that services by Gozo Channel have been considerably improved, including the opening of a new terminal in Mgarr, while Gozitan operators in the tourism industry were enjoying lower trading fees.

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Comments

Joseph Ellis (on 1/8/08)

I wonder why it took the authorities, and specifically MMA, so long to submit an application to place this mooring buoy. According to MEPA, the application was only submitted last October and was approved last June. While Malta has been reaping the benefits of the burgeoning cruise-liner trade, Gozo has more or less been excluded altogether. At one time, persons in the trade had been informed that there was no money for this buoy. Circa Lm 60,000 are needed which is more or less what has been spent on a pre-electoral advertising spree on Grand Harbour Regeneration. Thus, one hopes that once MEPA has given its go-ahead, there would be no further hiccups.

I would think that the placing of similar buoys in Marsalforn and Mgarr would also expand the possibilities of exploiting the cruise liner business.

One final comment on Gozo Channel. Gozo Channel is operating a cosy monopoly which is not necessarily in Gozo's best interests. It is high time that a regular service is established between the Inner Harbour area and Gozo and this for the benefit of commuters, cargo hauliers and the tourists who live in the vicinity.

Alfred Grima (on 1/8/08)

Why all this fuss dear Minister? If I am not mistaken, the PN Government which you form part off had spent millions of Euros on the Imgarr terminal, with the understanding that one day it would cater for cruise liners. Need to say more!

Dr. Kevin Mompalao (on 1/8/08)

Good news. But I do not see any reason why in this island a favourable MEPA decision has to be made public by a member of the cabinet. I would sincerly like to see both MEPA and the Gozo Ministry (especially MEPA) approving similar projects for Gozo.

Stanley Cassar Darien (on 1/8/08)

I think it's best to see where the tourists want to go and take them there, we are not talking about cattle here, what happened to hospitality? Can't imagine anybody stepping off a cruise liner and wanting to sit down in a cafe or restaurant myself when there is the citadel right up the road. This is all about giving the tourists the best experience possible so that hopefully they would promote the island of Gozo and would return in the future, not making a quick Euro or two.

Patrick Oonk (on 1/8/08)

"I think this is great news for Xlendi, the smaller companies will be able to potentially off load passengers and bring them into the bay where they can eat/drink/buy local goods"

When the Seabourne Pride landed in 2006, passengers were rushed through Xlendi, straight to Victoria. Nothing was gained for Xlendi, except for the new pavement in front of Ta Karolina/Stone Crap.

Gordon Cook (on 1/8/08)

I agree it's good news for Gozo but not necessarily for Xlendi, I was staying in Xlendi when the Seabourne Pride visited.
Despite the huge efforts made by Xlendi traders etc to make it a special day for the visitors, the vast majority were escorted through to waiting coaches to take them to Victoria,

Mark Duffy (on 1/8/08)

I think this is great news for Xlendi, the smaller companies will be able to potentially off load passangers and bring them into the bay where they can eat/drink/buy local goods, this can only be good for Xlendi and Gozo.

Mepa have finally issued a permit worthy of its name, unlike the nonsense at Ramla and Hondoq.

MEPA issues permit for cruise liner buoy off Xlendi

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