Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1538077
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 They described the area as one of the few remaining refug- es in the country where peace, quiet, and a clear view of the night sky, including the Milky Way, can still be enjoyed. The site is also noted as par- ticularly important for Scopoli and Yelkouan shearwaters and the European Storm-petrel, all of which are highly sensitive to light pollution. The coalition stated that the cliffs at Dwejra offer these spe- cies critical respite, and that both land and underwater eco- systems in the area are ecologi- cally remarkable. However, the coalition crit- icised authorities for failing to protect the site, pointing to a range of ongoing infringe- ments. These include increased lighting, off-roading, barbe- cuing, littering, and commer- cialisation. They warned that the site is being degraded daily while authorities take no ac- tion. On Wednesday the Coalition had an urgent appeal to the Planning Authority to reject a controversial planning appli- cation that seeks to sanction a series of unauthorized develop- ments in Dwejra. The NGOs condemned what they described as systematic degradation of protected land through the illegal installation of walls, solar panels, CCTV cameras, and other unauthor- ized structures. Moreover, a nearby illegal concrete batching plant was singled out for operating with what the coalition claimed was the "blessing of the Ministry for Gozo and Planning," and contributing to nighttime light pollution. The coalition also criticised the continued activities of boathouses in the area, which were initially built illegally and later sanctioned. They accused the boathouses of installing so- lar panels and employing arti- ficial lighting at night, further spoiling the site. The Ministry for the Envi- ronment, led by Minister Mir- iam Dalli, was called out for remaining silent. The coalition said officials deflect respon- sibility and that ministers are absent when it matters most. They also called on the San Lawrenz Local Council, under whose jurisdiction the site falls, to move beyond rhetoric and use its authority to curb dam- aging activities. In a closing remark, the Coali- tion for Gozo said the situation is indicative of a wider failure in political leadership when it comes to the environment. "They are the first to pounce at a photo-opportunity, but the last to take any meaningful action that truly conserves the little nature we have left," the coalition this paper. GozoToday reached out to the Gozo Ministry for com- ment and was told that all de- cisions rest with the Planning Board. No further comment was provided. GozoToday is a weekly newspaper focused primarily on Gozo. It hopes to serve as a source of information on business, culture, entertainment and of course current affairs. Gozo has a special charm about it but it is also a bustling Island with an identity of its own. GozoToday is published every Friday and is available to numerous outlets in Gozo and on the ferries that carry so many visitors to Gozo from Malta and beyond. GozoToday MediaToday Co. Ltd, Vjal ir-Rihan San Gwann SGN 9016 ASSISTANT EDITOR: LAURA CALLEJA Tel: (356) 21 382741-3, 21 382745-6 Website: www.maltatoday.com.mt E-mail: dailynews@mediatoday.com.mt 3 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 1 AUGUST 2025 NEWS Tourist spending hits €396 Million in June THE National Statistics Office (NSO) re- leased inbound tourism figures for June 2025 today, confirming strong growth aligned with the Malta Tourism Author- ity's (MTA) strategy to boost tourism out- side the peak summer months. Tourist expenditure in Malta and Gozo reached nearly €396 million in June, marking a 19.1% increase compared to the same period in 2024, outpacing the 10.8% rise in visitor numbers. This trend of expenditure growth exceeding visitor growth continued through the first half of 2025, with tourism spending up 21% to over €1.56 billion, while tourist arrivals rose by 13.5%. The largest group of visitors in the first six months were aged 25 to 44, totaling 661,391, followed by the 45-64 age group with 583,255 tourists. Visitors aged 0-24 numbered 345,850, while those 65 and older totaled 215,234. The highest growth rate was among the 65+ demographic, in- creasing by 25.2%, with the 45-64 group growing by 18.3%. The 0-24 age group saw the slowest growth at 5.8%. Average length of stay remained stable at just under six nights, with a 14.4% in- crease in tourists staying longer than sev- en nights. Carlo Micallef, CEO of the MTA, said the results reflect the success of the Authori- ty's vision and ongoing efforts to diversify source markets—including Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, and Aus- tralia—and attract higher-spending tour- ists year-round. He credited the strong collaboration with industry stakeholders and policy support from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism Dr Ian Borg in driving the revitalisation and sus- tainability of Malta's tourism sector. Red alert for Dwejra over lack of enforcement Photo of light pollution from boathouses at the Inland Sea in Dwejra provided by the NGOs An ariel view of boat houses