Cruise liner terminal in Gozo a priority, tourism minister confirms

Tourism minister Edward Zammit Lewis confirmed that the government still considers the construction of a cruise liner terminal as a “priority” but refused to provide further details.

He was responding to questions in Parliament by shadow Gozo minister Chris Said, who called for updates on the proposed terminal – noting that it was included in Labour’s electoral manifesto but left out of the last two Budgets.

“The government considers the cruise liner terminal project to be a priority,” he said, admitting that it will “change the topography” of Gozo and pledging that it will be completed at the “opportune moment”.

When questioned further by Said on timeframes, Zammit Lewis responded that it will take less time than it had taken previous Nationalist administrations to construct the ports in Cirkewwa and Mgarr.

He also refused to give an exact number on whether a particular location has been earmarked for the terminal or how many companies have applied to the government’s expression of interest it had issued in June 2013.

“A number of companies who have declared interest in the project, and we are determined to complete it as soon as possible,” he said.

Only one proposal – by the Kalamarine Development Consortium – was submitted to the government by the time the EOI expired. However, the consortium has not been officially chosen to develop the marina.

In June 2015, the Milan-based architects’ firm Chapman Taylor said that Kalamarine had selected them to design a 220,000 metre squared cruise liner terminal at a disused limestone quarry in Qala.  

Chapman Taylor’s concept comprises a new cruise terminal building and a contemporary yachy marina, residential apartments, villas, a luxury hotel and retail and leisure facilities.

In response to PQs by Labour MP Anthony Agius Decelis, Zammit Lewis said that 18 cruise ships berthed in Gozo as a port of call in 2015, carrying a total of 9,800 passengers – a 300% increase when compared to 2012. In the first nine months of this year, 5,200 cruise ship passengers visited Gozo – a 76% increase when compared to 2012.