Concern at the current situation has been expressed by the Gozo Tourism Association.
In a statement, the GTA said indications were clearly showing that the outcome of the current year would not reach last year's figures. Moreover, the occupancy figures for the first two months of this year were lower than last year.
NSO figures also registered a drop in the number of ferry commuters between the two islands.
The GTA said that the Gozitan tourism sector managed to sustain the domestic market along the years but this was now being diverted to out bound destinations which were being serviced by the various low cost carriers. This market was helping to mitigate the high seasonality element on Gozo.
Sporadic busy weekends such as carnival and Easter were not a sustainable way to operate a tourist establishment during a never ending winter season, it said.
The GTA said the sector was constantly encountering law enforcement, which, although necessary, could be disproportionate on a seasonal, sensitive and small island like Gozo.
Gozitan tourism needed measures to extend the short summer season and not actions which were rendering operations in tourism establishments seasonal, it said.
In the prevailing circumstances the Gozo Tourism Association is calling on the Authorities to tackle the tourism industry on Gozo more seriously, if we are to instill confidence and create the right climate within the tourism sector, especially in the coming tough months.
The Gozo Tourism Association is appealing to Government to act in the short term to resolve outstanding issues and act accordingly in matters concerning the tourism sector on Gozo. Issues related to the tourism product both public and privately owned are to be tackled without further delay to be in shape for the fast approaching season. Pending permits related to tourism services and infrastructural projects put forward by the private sector should be treated without further bureaucracy to stimulate the Gozitan economic impasse.
All the aforementioned issues, although some might interprete them as the usual Gozitan lamentations, are brought about simply because the Gozitan island lacks the proper administrative arm in tourism, which the island of Gozo deserves on its own right.
Until such time, the Government keeps on dragging its feet to give Gozo the merited tools, this island will simply remain a summer season resort and or a retreat crib. That is not sustainable tourism.