Don’t bring cruise ships to Gozo

My partner and I only discovered Malta and Gozo as a holiday destination three years ago and so taken were we – especially with Gozo – that we have now clocked up four visits so far.

The latest holiday, lasting nine days, sadly ended just last week and it was then that we became aware of the proposed cruise ship terminal/anchorage installation for the island.

While I fully understand the need for Gozo’s tourist economy to grow and bring prosperity to the local population, caution needs to be taken when going down the cruise ship route.

Dubrovnik, in Croatia, is another favourite place of mine but a recent trip there became almost unbearable due to the sheer density and numbers of passengers on a quick visit.

The owner of one of our favourite eating places confirmed that, apart from the odd ice cream and a trip up in the cable car, no money is actually spent and life has become so difficult that many of the original residents have now moved out.

Cruise companies are only interested in their passengers spending money when on board their luxury ships.

People that actually stay on Gozo are the ones that need to be catered for. It is they that spend money on the food, accommodation and services that add to the economy.

These genuine visitors will more likely than not find themselves squeezed out as the cruise ship masses invade, clogging up the system with the dozens of coaches required to whizz them round at breakneck speed ticking off the must-see items. The inconvenience for locals and the extra pressure on the fragile island infrastructure is surely not worth a dozen parttime driving jobs and a few dozen ice cream sales.