Every time I go to Gozo I make it a point not to miss the moment when the ship is approaching Mġarr harbour. Tourists happily record the splendid scene on their mobile.
It has been stated that a tunnel between Malta and Gozo is the government’s preferred option for a permanent link between the two islands. The entrance to the tunnel will be from Manikata, emerging somewhere between Nadur and Xagħra in Gozo – a distance of some 13km.
No Maltese spending a day in Gozo would use the tunnel if there is a choice. Furthermore, I cannot imagine tourists missing the sea crossing for a 13km drive in a tunnel to visit Gozo.
Any decision by the authorities regarding a fixed link between the two islands should take into consideration the above. For anyone living in Gozo a reliable and fast service is a must.
With an economy growing fast, a population projected to increase to around 700,000 in the not too distant future, a fixed link, in my opinion, should include the island of Comino.
With an area of 3.5km, Comino, lying between the two main islands, has the potential to be transformed into a national park – and no more.
The phenomenon of low-cost airlines, coupled with the need for more foreigners arriving to work in Malta, is showing signs of stress on the locals. This calls for foresight.