Figuring out the figures on Gozo tourism

I refer to the on the dot column of July 25 which included a comment connected with the latest Gozo Tourism Association tourist establishments survey and figures related to Gozo Channel passenger crossings.

The frequent announcements of increases in commuters and vehicles on Gozo Channel ferries are to be considered as benefitting the Gozo tourism industry. The number of 4,031,480 passengers ferried between the two islands during 2010 is also partly confirmed by a registered increase of 19 per cent in Maltese resident arrivals in Gozitan hotels, aparthotels and guesthouses during 2010. However, in the absence of relative statistics, one is not in a position to determine any benefits regarding the self-catering sector.

In order to properly and objectively analyse the effect of this traffic on the Gozitan tourist industry, the Gozo Channel figures have to be presented in a way that distinguishes between the type of passengers that use the company’s services. Figures available from other sources show that during the same year 669,000 tourists staying in Malta visited Gozo for a day trip. It is also known that 92,000 foreign tourists stayed for one night or more in an establishment falling under one of the various types of accommodation available on Gozo. (This figure represents 7.6 per cent of the total tourist arrivals in Malta during 2010). When one considers both the day trippers as well as the foreign tourists, it adds up that they represent 1,522,000 “passenger” crossings quoted in the ferry company’s statistics for 2010.

Who are the remaining 2,509,480 passengers who commuted between the two islands during the year under review? From NSO statistics it is known that 38,444 Maltese residents crossed over to Gozo and stayed for one or more nights in Gozitan hotels and/or guesthouses. Due to lack of statistical data this figure does not include Maltese residents who stayed in self-catering accommodation on Gozo that comprises both apartments as well as the popular farmhouses. For the sake of our argument this figure represents another 76,888 passenger crossings.

Recent data also shows that approximately 1,200 Gozitan workers commute between Gozo and Malta and vice versa on a daily base. On the assumption that these workers travel five days a week to Malta and back, it may be deduced that these represent another 624,000 annual passenger crossings.

With these one must consider the 1,047 Gozitan students who were following courses at the Univeristy of Malta (874) and Mcast (173) during 2010. Although many of these do not commute on a daily basis there are those who do so and others who cross once or twice a week. On average, calculated on a 37-week basis , one can say that crossings related with these students would add up to about 155,000 passenger crossings.

Cumulatively, commuters falling under the above-mentioned sectors including foreign day trippers, foreign and Maltese tourists who stayed in hotels and guesthouses, Gozitan workers and students work out to a total of 2,377,888 passengers or almost 60 per cent of the total number of passengers ferried during 2010. However the percentage relative to foreign and Maltese tourists, who spent one or more nights in Gozitan hotels and guesthouses, would work out to 143,922 passenger crossings or 3.5 per cent of total crossings during 2010. On the other hand, foreign day trippers ferried during 2010 accounted for 1,338,000 passenger crossings equivalent to 33 per cent of total crossings.

It is presumed that the remaining 40 per cent (1,653,592) of crossings relate to the Gozitan and Maltese businesses who ferry their merchandise on a regular basis, Gozitans who commute between the islands for health reasons, business, shopping, leisure and other needs, together with the Maltese who stayed on Gozo for more than one night in the self-catering accommodation establishments as well as Maltese residents who own their second property on Gozo.

The latter category represents a trend that has been gaining ground in Gozo during recent years. It relates to an increasing number of Maltese residents who have purchased a property on Gozo and frequently cross over to spend weekends on the smaller island. This is another segment that has definitely resulted in a substantial increase in Gozo Channel Co. numbers. It must be mentioned that even though these figures do not have a direct effect on the Gozitan tourist accommodation sector, it does positively affect the restaurants sector as well as the retail and other services sectors.

The above goes to show that it is wrong to assume that Gozo Channel figures constitute a Gozitan tourism barometer. As long as these figures are not differentiated, the impact of these increases on the Gozitan tourism sector cannot be precisely established.