A €12 million investment in Xewkija's Gozitano complex to turn it into a gastro-tourism destination would have a knock-on effect on the island's farmers, MEP Miriam Dalli said today. 

The project, which investors say will end up employing 80 people, will showcase Gozitan foods and take tourists through the process by which they are made. It will be the first such gastro-tourism destination in Malta. 

Dr Dalli commended the entrepreneurs behind the project, saying "traditional sectors should modernise their practices to be able to adapt themselves to current needs." 

She argued that developing a gastro-tourism niche market would not only help the Gozitan tourism sector, but also farmers to remain competitive in a sustainable manner. 

The MEP said the European Union needed to do more to help islanders like Gozitans overcome double insularity problems. 

"European policy needs to take into account the different circumstances experienced by an island like Gozo and adopt specific and adequate measures," she said, adding that collaboration between the government and private sector could help business flourish and create more jobs for young Gozitans.