The Gozo Tourism Association has called for reduced VAT tourism services in Gozo to mitigate seasonality.

It is also calling for a fourth ferry to operate cargo services and serve as a back-up for the other ferries in peak demand.

The proposals are being made to the government ahead of the Budget, due to be presented on Monday. 

The association called for ring-fencing of ECO tax contributions collected from Gozitan accommodation establishments for the upgrading and maintenance of the Gozitan tourism product.

In other proposals, the association called for training schemes aimed at improving knowledge and skills in the tourism industry and funding to consider alternative sites for an airstrip in Gozo.

It also called for a fund to enforce and manage marine protected areas around Gozo and implementation of the Diving Master Plan prepared through EU co-financing in 2006. The actions proposed by the plan were never activated.