‘Worrying signs for Gozo tourism’

The Malta Labour Party yesterday invoked data indicating a drop in channel crossings to argue that the government should reconsider its position on the proposed utility hike as this would further damage the Gozitan tourism industry.

The MLP spokesman for tourism, Marie Louise Coleiro-Preca referred to figures just released by the National Statistics Office on passenger movements between Malta and Gozo.

The data show a drop in the number of passengers crossing between the two islands last July and a slide of 9.6 per cent in bed nights during the same month.

These factors, Ms Coleiro-Preca insisted, indicate that Gozo is increasingly becoming a weekend resort for the local market. The scenario is worrying for the tourism industry, which is so essential for Gozo.

The drop reflects the government’s failure to advertise the island adequately as a touristic destination in its own right, she said, adding that many tourist operators declared that the industry cannot remain economically viable when, at the peak of the season, the duration of visits is only 4.7 nights on average.

For the industry to be viable, Ms Coleiro-Preca said, visits should last at least eight nights on average.

Ms Coleiro-Preca added that if hotels and restaurants are struggling to stay in business in view of the expenses they face, they would undoubtedly be in dire straits if the proposed utility bills are pushed through. On this note, she urged the government to reconsider its position.