Gozo gets a boost

The number of Maltese visiting Gozo picked up from the middle of August after a drop early in the summer.

The ferries carried just under 79,000 passengers and 20,780 vehicles during the long Independence Day weekend, the Gozo ministry said yesterday.

The figures represent increases of 9,000 passengers and 3,600 cars over the same period last year (when, however, Independence Day fell on a Sunday instead of on Monday as happened this year).

"While domestic tourism ap-peared to be suffering somewhat early in the summer with fewer Maltese crossing to Gozo, the situation changed from mid-August," the ministry said.

It said infrastructural improvements, including the new harbour terminal building and road works, had helped Gozo cope with the influx, while the organisation of various cultural events had promoted the island as an attractive destination.

Such activities would continue over the coming weeks, with the opera Aida set to be presented at the Aurora Theatre on October 10 and Rigoletto at the Astra on October 29 and 31.