Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545122
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 • 29 MAY 2026 NEWS CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 The number of nights spent also rose by 12.4%, reaching 56,466 nights. Despite the higher visitor volumes, the average stay re- mained unchanged at 2.3 nights, indicating that most trips to the island continue to be short breaks rather than ex- tended holidays. Occupancy levels remain relatively low While demand increased, ho- tel performance showed mixed results. The net occupancy rate in Gozo and Comino stood at 26.9%, a decrease of 1.7 per- centage points compared with the same quarter in 2025. This contrasts with Malta's stronger performance over the same period, where occupancy rates were significantly higher, reflecting the concentration of larger hotels and more sus- tained year-round tourism de- mand. National tourism trend supports wider growth Across Malta as a whole, tourism continued to expand in early 2026. National guest numbers rose by 15.6%, while total nights spent increased by 11%. The average stay in Malta slightly declined to 4.0 nights. The wider accommodation sector also showed strong us- age, with 4-star hotels account- ing for just over half of all guest nights during the quarter. Nights spent in Gozo has risen by 12.4%, reaching 56,466 nights - NSO THE Mediterranean Thyme, which is currently covering Mal- ta's garigue countryside in pur- ple flowers, has been protected by Maltese law for more than 90 years, the Malta Ranger Unit (MRU) said. The unit reminded the public that it is illegal to pick or uproot the plant. The law pro- tecting the shrub came into force on 23 March 1932 through Gov- ernment Notice 85 of 1932. The rule was introduced after large amounts of wild thyme were be- ing collected for Christmas crib decorations. The Malta Ranger Unit said the protection of the plant falls un- der the Agricultural Department and not the Environment and Re- sources Authority (ERA). The unit also said the plant is important for the environment because it pro- vides food for bees and attracts butterflies. The statement forms part of a public awareness cam- paign funded by the Malta Envi- ronment Foundation. The Malta Ranger Unit said it will continue sharing information about local plants and animals every week. MRU reminds public that it is illegal to pick Mediterranean Thyme, as the plant blooms in the garigue countryside Mediterranean Thyme is illegal to pick or uproot the plant (Photo: Malta Ranger Unit) Tourism activity in Gozo increased in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025