IN 2023, Gozo and Comino received
1,714,458 international visitors, amount-
ing to 57.6% of total visits to Malta.
Nights spent by tourists amounted to
1,066,482 in 2023, an increase of 19.7%
over 2022, with an average length of stay
of 6.7 nights, mainly in the peak summer
months.
But top hoteliers believe as many as one
in two collective holiday accommodation
beds in Gozo being advertised on digital
rental platforms such as AirBnb or Book-
ing.com, are not licensed with the tourism
authority, and are calling for stricter en-
forcement of rules.
Tony Zahra, the president of the Malta
Hotels and Restaurants Association, told
GozoToday there needs to be political will
to enforce laws governing the collective
accommodation rental market, leading
to unfair competition for other registered
units and hotels.
PAGE 3
SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL
FRIDAY 12 JULY 2024 • ISSUE 001 • PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY
gozotoday
PAUL
COCKS
pcocks@mediatoday.com.mt
€1.00
Over 1.7 million tourists
visited Gozo in 2023
Authorities
restore order
to Rabat
square taken
over by tables
and chairs
SEVERAL government agencies swooped
in on Rabat's St George's Square in Gozo
on Thursday morning to enforce the exist-
ing masterplan on outdoor dining.
The operation was carried out by offi-
cials from the Malta Tourism Authority,
the Planning Authority, the Lands Au-
thority and the police.
PAGE 4
... but as many as 50% of self-catering Gozo rooms
could be unlicensed, MHRA boss claims
St George's Square in Rabat, Gozo after the action
to clear abusive tables and chairs (Photo: George
Cassar/Facebook)
Minister signs
documentation
for Hondoq ir-
Rummien Local
Plan Review
PAGE 3
