An international call for expressions of interest for the building and operation of a cruise liner terminal and a yacht marina in Gozo has been issued by the government.

At present there are no cruise liner facilities on the sister island other than a hardly-used buoy for small cruise ships off Xlendi.

Gozo Minister Anton Refalo said the purpose of the project was  to attract small to medium-sized cruise liners.He said the call was issued on June 28 and closes at the end of September. The ministry has already received enquires by 12 companies,  from Sweden, Spain and Greece.

Though there is no preferred site for the project, the minister said that proposals for Hondoq Ir-Rummien would not be considered due to the environmental impact.

On the other hand he said that Marsalforn has huge potential for a yacht marina.

He said the buoy which was laid off the Xlendi coast in 2010 had cost €238,000 and was initially hampered by technical problems. It later transpired that the buoy was too close to the coast. This raised safety concerns apart from the fact that ships could not switch off their engines as they dragged anchor. Three years down the line the Xlendi buoy failed to have any positive impact on the tourism industry in Gozo and the handful of cruise liners which visit the island still have to anchor outside Mgarr Harbour, Dr Refalo said.