Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1546604
8 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 18 SEPTEMBER 2026 NEWS Gozo Tourism Association calls for 'quality over quantity' in Budget 2027 proposals THE Gozo Tourism Association (GTA) called for a shift towards higher-value and more sustain- able tourism in its Budget 2027 proposals, with measures ranging from improved ferry connectivity and a new 132kV electricity cable to the creation of a Gozo Marine Park and greater planning auton- omy for the island. In its proposals, the association argued that Gozo's tourism strat- egy should focus less on visitor numbers and more on attracting higher-spending visitors while protecting the island's environ- ment, cultural identity and quality of life. The GTA noted that foreign overnight stays in Gozitan ac- commodation had increased by 12,346, or 6.9%, in 2025, while in- ternational day visitors had risen by 258,015, or 13.9%. It also highlighted that expendi- ture by inbound tourists who had selected Gozo as their sole desti- nation had reached €100.9 mil- lion in 2025, representing a 13.9% increase over the previous year. Average expenditure had risen to €1,067.50, compared with €977 in 2024. The association said that do- mestic tourism had also grown, with 397,322 domestic visitors recorded in 2025, an increase of 14.8%. Domestic expenditure had reached €74.7 million, up by 26.3%. Better connectivity The association noted that 6.8 million passenger crossings be- tween Malta and Gozo had been recorded in 2025. It also pointed to the launch of the Sliema-Buġib- ba-Gozo fast ferry service in May 2026, which had carried more than 50,000 passengers in its first two months of operation. The GTA called for the fast fer- ry network to be retained and ex- panded, alongside an upgrade of the Mġarr Fast Ferry Terminal. It also proposed replacing the MV Nikolaos with a fully electric, wheelchair-accessible ferry in or- der to maintain a four-vessel ro- tation. The association called for pro- gress on the proposed rural air- field, which could provide a fixed- wing connection between Malta and Gozo. It further proposed examining the possible enlargement of Mġarr Harbour, upgrading Ċirkewwa's South Quay and improving facil- ities for cruise passengers. The GTA also called for better tender landing facilities at Xlendi, Marsalforn and Hondoq ir-Rum- mien, while suggesting that Mar- salforn could be developed as an alternative porting location. Additional road access to Mġarr and a unified digital ticketing sys- tem were among the other meas- ures proposed. The association also called for smaller and more frequent elec- tric buses to connect Gozo's vil- lages with Victoria, Mġarr and the island's main attractions. Focus on quality The GTA argued that Gozo needed to move away from a tour- ism model based primarily on vol- ume and instead focus on quality, higher visitor spending and sus- tainability. It warned that shortcomings in cleanliness, maintenance, public spaces and visitor infrastructure could undermine the island's tourism product. The association referred to sev- eral public investment projects, including the Marsalforn-Victoria Road, residential street improve- ments, the Gozo Museum and the Ta' Xhajma Park-and-Ride facil- ity. It also called for stronger elec- tricity infrastructure, including a new 132kV submarine cable be- tween Malta and Gozo and addi- tional distribution centres. The GTA proposed that reve- nue from the Eco Contribution generated in Gozo should be ring- fenced for investment on the is- land. It also called for better protec- tion of access to dive sites and proposed the creation of a Gozo Marine Park. Other proposals included imple- menting diving strategies, reduc- ing VAT on multivision cinema admissions from 18% to 7%, and increasing efforts to preserve and promote Gozo's cultural heritage. The association also called for the Tourism Act to be modern- ised and proposed a tailor-made grant scheme to support the de- velopment of tourism products. It further proposed changes to the summer breaktime directive to prohibit excavation and dem- olition works within 50 metres of MTA-licensed tourism establish- ments across Gozo. A dedicated Gozo Aesthetics and Public Realm Unit was also proposed, together with the crea- tion of a Gozo Film Trail and the outsourcing of public conveni- ences in major tourist resorts. Marketing and niche tourism The GTA said that Gozo had developed into a year-round des- tination over the past 25 years and argued that further growth should focus on niche markets such as nature, wellness, outdoor and adventure tourism, gastronomy, sports and diving. The association pointed to the Pop In The City event held in Sep- tember 2024, which had attracted around 400 international partic- ipants who had stayed on the is- land for three nights. It proposed a joint marketing incentive fund aimed at attract- ing niche travel programmes and securing an additional 10 to 12 cruise calls each year, particularly during the shoulder and winter seasons. The GTA also called for greater support for niche tourism trade fairs and proposed Gozo-specific incentives for film and television productions. Under the proposal, production crews could potentially receive re- imbursement of up to 50% of their accommodation costs. The association also called for greater support for sustainabili- ty certification and digital trans- formation, while identifying adventure, outdoor and sports tourism, walking and hiking, dig- ital nomads, wellness and expe- rience-based travel as emerging opportunities. Tourism workers The GTA highlighted labour shortages as another major chal- lenge facing the tourism sector. It noted that tourism-related services accounted for more than 10% of employment in Gozo and argued that the sector's reliance on foreign workers had created challenges related to retention, language, cultural integration and maintaining the authenticity of the tourism experience. The association proposed a tourism employment retention incentive for businesses that re- tained full-time workers for 12 months. It also called for student em- ployment grants, language and cultural integration pro- grammes for foreign workers, and wider training and upskill- ing opportunities. The GTA proposed improve- ments to work permit frame- works for third-country na- tionals and called for winter National Insurance credits to help support seasonal workers. It also proposed developing an ITS Gozo campus as a centre of excellence and identified edu- cational tourism as a strategic sector for the island. The association called for bet- ter coordination on student and employment permits, afforda- ble housing for key workers and a level playing field in recruit- ment. Protecting Gozo's identity On planning and develop- ment, the GTA argued that Gozo should not become "a smaller version of Malta". The association said that the island's villages, rural land- scapes, cultural heritage, com- munity identity and quieter way of life needed to be protected as part of its tourism strategy. It called for planning and envi- ronmental policies tailored spe- cifically to Gozo and proposed stronger planning autonomy, including the possibility of a dedicated Gozo Planning Au- thority or greater regional au- tonomy. The GTA also called for the retention of existing restoration incentives for properties within Urban Conservation Areas and proposed extending incentives to vernacular and post-war properties. A traditional property restora- tion scheme and the creation of a marine reserve around Gozo were also among its proposals. The association said that Gozo's future tourism strategy should be based on quality rath- er than quantity, with targeted investment and dedicated re- sources aimed at developing the island as a high-quality, sustain- able, year-round destination. The full Budget 2027 docu- ment can also be downloaded from the Gozo Tourism Associ- ation website The GTA says that Gozo needed to move away from a tourism model based primarily on volume and instead focus on quality, higher visitor spending and sustainability