Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544842
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: lcalleja@mediatoday.com.mt 3 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 8 MAY 2026 NEWS Where does the fast ferry go? The service connects Sliema-Buġibba-Gozo (Mġarr Harbour). Passengers can travel the full route or just one segment, depending on their needs. How long does the journey take? Sliema to Buġibba: around 30 minutes Buġibba to Gozo: around 30 minutes Full trip (Sliema to Gozo): about 1 hour 15 minutes, including a short stop in Buġibba. How much does it cost? Standard one-way fares are: Sliema to Gozo: €8.50 Buġibba to Gozo: €6.50 Discounted fares are available for Gozo residents, students, seniors and children, while children under 3 travel free. The Sliema–Buġibba leg is free for residents, in line with the government's free public transport policy. Can you travel between stops or only end-to- end? You don't need to take the full journey. The service allows passengers to board and disembark at Sliema, Buġibba, or Gozo. How do you buy tickets? A: Tickets can be purchased online through the Gozo Highspeed system or at the ferry terminal before departure. Everything you need to know CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 The Gozo Business Chamber also welcomed the service, stating the new routes should help ease pressure on the existing Valletta– Mġarr service while opening up new economic opportunities. The chamber highlighted that improved connectivity is criti- cal for Gozo's development, but warned that the growing volume of services will make the planned extension of Mġarr Harbour in- creasingly urgent. It added that other projects, in- cluding a logistics hub and a sec- ond road, should be considered to strengthen infrastructure re- silience. The chamber reiterated that the proposed permanent link between Malta and Gozo should remain on the long-term agenda, emphasising that accessibility is "not a privilege, but an essential need" that requires a vision ex- tending beyond political cycles. Moreover, the Gozo Regional Development Authority (GRDA) described the introduction of the new fast ferry routes as a "signif- icant step forward" in enhancing accessibility between the islands. It said the connections to Buġibba and Sliema complement the exist- ing Valletta service and align with the Regional Strategy for Gozo, which prioritises improved con- nectivity as a driver of economic growth and quality of life. The GRDA noted that diver- sified entry and exit points are key to supporting sectors such as tourism, commerce and services. By expanding routes beyond Val- letta, the authority said the new service is expected to distribute passenger flows more evenly, re- duce congestion, and encourage more balanced regional develop- ment. It also underlined the social ben- efits of improved transport links, including easier travel, better access to essential services, and stronger economic and social ties between Malta and Gozo. All three stakeholders agreed that while the fast ferry service represents tangible progress, sustained investment in multi- modal transport and supporting infrastructure will be essential to ensure long-term effectiveness and to accommodate growing de- mand. New fast ferry routes welcomed, but concerns raised over capacity at Mgarr Harbour Gozo voters eligible for early voting to cast ballots in Xewkija THE Electoral Commission has noti- fied voters who will be abroad or hos- pitalised on polling day, Saturday 30 May 2026, that they may apply to cast their vote early on Saturday 23 May 2026. Applications must be submitted by noon on Friday 22 May 2026. Voters registered under Gozo who qualify for early voting will cast their ballots at the Government Experimen- tal Farm on Imġarr Road in Xewkija. Declarations may be submitted on- line through the Electoral Commis- sion website or in person at the Elec- toral Office in Triq Ta' Wara s-Sur, Rabat, Gozo. Applicants are required to present their identity card. The Electoral Commission said vot- ers who qualify to vote on 23 May must also submit their voting docu- ment. Voters registered under Gozo who qualify for early voting will cast their ballots at the Government Experimental Farm on Imgarr Road in Xewkija. A round trip will take around 1 hour and 15 minutes, from Sliema to Bugibba and then onward to Gozo (Photos: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)