The approved Marsalforn masterplan was launched by the Gozo Ministry on Saturday.

The ministry led and finalised the masterplan, approved by the Planning Authority, following the submission of the relative application and a consultation process with all stakeholders.

The masterplan covers a 12,850 cubic metre zone including Triq il-Port, Triq il-Forn, Triq San Ġużepp, Triq ir-Rabat and Misraħ Sir Michelangelo Refalo.

Its aim is to create a synergy for all operators in the zone to have clear guidelines of how and where they should apply with authorities to expand their tourist facilities.

Gozo Tourism Association chairman Joe Muscat said the association had welcomed the approval of the masterplan for Marsalforn bay.

It was important for the tourism industry in Gozo to organise the area and this aim would be reached by the plan.

Gozo was preparing to be considered a destination of quality and the masterplan was one of a chain of initiatives that were being implemented.

Gozo Minister Justyne Caruana gave a detailed overview of how the ministry had embarked on this ambitious project and how through consultation with stakeholders an agreement was reached.

The exercise, she said, would pave the way to other projects including a detailed study on how a breakwater should eventually be built.

It also served as a testing group for the preparation of other masterplans including Xlendi, Ramla l-Ħamra and Mġarr ix-Xini.

These were ambitious exercises which required a great amount of consultation, she said.