Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1539150
5 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 5 SEPTEMBER 2025 NEWS A total of 65 loggerhead turtle hatch- lings have hatched from a nest at Ramla l-Ħamra, the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) announced. The latest hatching marks the con- clusion of the fifth nest monitored this summer. Officials said attention now turns to the final remaining nest, which is expected to begin hatching in the coming days. The ERA thanked its staff and volun- teers who assisted with monitoring and protection efforts, noting their role was essential in ensuring the survival of the hatchlings. This summer has seen multiple suc- cessful nesting events on Maltese beaches, reflecting ongoing conserva- tion work aimed at protecting the en- dangered speci 65 turtle eggs hatch at Ramla l-Hamra BY the end of 2024, 41,253 people resid- ed in the Gozo and Comino, figures pub- lished by the The National Statistics Of- fice (NSO) on Wednesday revealed. THE NSO has launched a new Regional Statistics Portal, replacing its former Re- gional Statistics MALTA publication. The NSO said that according to figures released in July, the population included 31,761 Maltese and 9,492 foreign resi- dents, with those aged between 30 and 39 accounting for the largest share. The office said that the new online plat- form provides fully digital access to re- gional statistical information, organised under eight themes: demography, educa- tion, labour market, economy, transport, tourism, agriculture and fisheries, and re- sources. The NSO said it will be updated regular- ly to ensure access to the latest data. Population and households According to the data, between 2019 and 2024, the largest increases were observed in the 30–39 and 40–49 age cohorts, Gozo. In 2023, two-person households were the most common, while Gozo and Comino registered the lowest average household disposable income at €30,989. The at-risk-of-poverty rate in the region stood at 24.4%, significantly higher than Malta's 16.0%. Social benefits and employment Expenditure per capita on selected so- cial benefits exceeded €1,500 in San Law- renz and Victoria but was under €1,000 in Żebbuġ and Munxar. In 2023, 18,563 res- idents of Gozo and Comino held full-time jobs, up 4.9% from 2022. Of these, 67.3% worked in the private sector. Full-time employment within the region itself reached 14,279, an increase of 5.8% on the previous year. Male workers were concentrated in wholesale and retail, transport, and ac- commodation, while female workers were mainly employed in public administra- tion, education, and healthcare. Some 3,650 residents commuted daily to Malta for full-time work, with more than half employed in the public sector. Economy and transport Gozo and Comino's gross value added (GVA) rose by 11.8% in 2023. Transport data showed the region had the highest vehicle ratio in the country, with 1,126 vehicles per 1,000 residents, and the sec- ond-oldest car fleet, averaging 17.05 years. Reported traffic accidents in 2024 totalled 1,005, the lowest figure among districts. Sea transport activity also increased, with passenger and vehicle traffic between Malta and Gozo rising by 15% and 5.2% respectively in 2024. The Cirkewwa terminal was busiest on Fridays and Saturdays, while Mgarr reg- istered peak departures on Sundays and Saturdays. August saw the highest num- ber of crossings between Mgarr and Val- letta, with 977 trips carrying over 120,000 passengers. Tourism and accommodation Self-catering establishments accounted for 77.4% of Gozo and Comino's total bed stock in 2024, with apartments and villas with pools making up more than half of active holiday premises. Domestic tourism fell by 2.68% in 2024 compared with 2023, totalling 442,322 trips. Malta residents visiting Gozo and Comino for at least one night made up 69.1% of all tourists to the region, spend- ing an estimated €66.5 million, a 1.9% decrease. Meanwhile, Gozitans travelling to Malta dropped sharply from 48,478 in 2023 to 40,556 in 2024. Same-day visitors dominated inbound tourism to Gozo and Comino, accounting for 91.2% of arrivals, or nearly 1.86 million visitors. A digital shift The NSO said the new portal presents data according to official territorial clas- sifications, covering NUTS 3, district and locality levels, supplemented with geospa- tial dimensions. The shift from a printed publication to an online platform builds on Gozo in Figures, first published in 2012, and reflects the agency's efforts to provide more comprehensive and acces- sible data. Gozo's population reaches 41,253 by end of 2024, NSO reveals The NSO said that according to figures released in July, the population included 31,761 Maltese and 9,492 foreign residents The latest hatching marks the conclusion of the fifth nest monitored this summer.