Two Italians are bringing dozens of foreigners to Gozo in winter, saying that activity-based packages will overcome the island’s seasonality.
Federica Brunini and Manolo Mantovani met and fell in love in Gozo and then fell in love with Gozo itself. The result was GoinGozo, a tour operator set up last February specialising in events like yoga retreats.
“In October we are getting Dev Kapil, a world famous master,” Brunini said, noting that some 20 people would be travelling from far afield for the chance to have a retreat with him.
“We had to scour Gozo to find a suitable place for the retreat, with a parquet floor and mats. And it also had to have a kitchen so that we can cater to all the various dietary requirements, from vegan and vegetarian to raw foodism and pescatarians. But the atmosphere in Gozo is much more suited to such events than Malta is.”
Apart from yoga, they are organising detox retreats, including a digital detox for those addicted to their smartphones and devices, a photography workshop, a drama workshop and creative writing courses.
Most of the packages are based on long weekends. “We would also like to do something centred around cooking. We are talking to the Institute of Tourism Studies as they have the kitchen set-up already,” she said.
The fact that Brunini and Mantovani are foreign means they were able to do something different, bringing together various stakeholders and persuading rivals that sharing the same portal was positive.
“There are, for example, so many organisations that rent farmhouses but who would not speak to each other. We believe that having a range of farmhouses on offer makes it more likely that a visitor will find what they want, instead of getting discouraged by having to visit numerous websites,” she explained.
They have also brought on board Ta’ Menu and Massar Winery, among others, and are constantly adding to the line-up of events, activities and accommodation.
When she moved here, Brunini put her journalistic background to good use, inviting journalists to share their passion for the island, resulting in articles in top magazines like Conde Nast, Vogue Italia and Corriere della Sera.
“I had come here myself twice on a journalists’ familiarisation visit – but I felt we were taken to see standard things when in fact there is much more to do and see. The timetable was not imaginative enough. Journalists want to see something different.”
Mantovani admitted that organising the trips without financial help from the Malta Tourism Authority was not easy.
“If we were in it for the money, I think we would be doing something else. There are certainly easier ways to make money. But we really want GoinGozo to work,” he said.
www.goingozo.com