Gozo bridge ‘may not be financially feasible’ – Gozo tourism chief

Gozo Tourism Association (GTA) CEO Joe Muscat has suggested that a proposed construction of a bridge or tunnel between Gozo and Malta may not be financially feasible.

“These studies must occur in a realistic way and all the entities concerned must be consulted. Also, for one of these proposals to be realized, the factors of time and expenditure must be considered. We also need to look at the national context and find out where the country’s priorities stand.”
However, he recommended the creation of a fast ferry line between Gozo and Sicily, as well as an airstrip in Gozo that will accommodate a plane carrying a maximum of 25 passengers.

“An airstrip in Gozo could open other windows of opportunity, amongst them a service of direct flights to neighbouring islands like Sicily,” Muscat told Sunday newspaper Illum.

Tourism to Gozo has increased steadily throughout the past five years. Last year alone, 147,000 foreign tourists visited Gozo and spent a combined total of around a million nights there. However, work still needs to be done to attract more foreign and Maltese tourists to the island during the winter months. Muscat said that this can be achieved by decreasing the ticket prices of the Gozo ferry service as had been done during weekends in February and May earlier this year.

“This is a scheme that could be repeated for the coming winter months,” Muscat said. He also suggested the creation of a calendar for cultural and recreational events held in Gozo.

While the rising rate of tourism to Gozo pleases the GTA, they are concerned that it remains backwards when compared to tourism rates in Malta. The mean annual occupation of Gozitan hotels currently stands at 47% while that of Maltese hotels is 67%. Muscat believes that this is mostly due to the lack of money available for investment and the delays that often occur when investors apply for the required permits.

Muscat also lauded the government for their collaboration with the Gozitan tourism industry. He said that this has “increased” when compared to the previous administration.

Read the full interview in Illum