The Gozo Tourism Association complained yesterday that low-cost airlines were luring potential Maltese visitors away from Gozo.

In proposals to the political parties in view of the upcoming general election, the association said that while Gozo had also benefited from the increased influx of tourists thanks to low-cost carriers, many Maltese were opting to spend their holidays abroad rather than in Gozo.

It therefore proposed that Maltese people who spent a night or more in Gozo would pay the same ferry tariff as the Gozitans in winter.

It renewed a call for an airstrip for fixed wing aircraft with a capacity of about 20 seats, a proposal it termed as being “financially sustainable”.

It backed the proposal for an underwater tunnel, urging that the tourism sector should also be consulted about the proposed project’s positive and negative impact.

The association pointed out that the Mġarr harbour had become too small given the maritime activity taking place and, so, it suggested the building of a quay in Marsalforn for ferry services to Sicily and more yacht berthing facilities in Marsalforn and other bays.

Bays such as San Blas and Ħondoq ir-Rummien should join Ramla l-Ħamra in being given the Blue Flag Beach status.

The GTA also called for the implementation of the master plan for diving sites and for certain sites such as Dwejra and Xatt l-Aħmar to be declared marine protected areas. Other proposals included the exploitation of tourism niche areas, such as conference travel, religious travel, agritourism, carnival and an opera season.

The association pitched the idea that the timetable for buses departing from Ċirkewwa should be rescheduled to complement the Gozo Channel ferry service.

It also called for VAT on accommodation to be cut from seven to five per cent.