Gozitan businesses have reported a bumper January, registering a roaring trade as a result of the slashing of Gozo ferry prices. The reduced weekend tariffs were an incentive by the government to focus on ‘shoulder months’ with the aim of retaining Gozo’s status as a thriving destination all year round.
The Malta Independent spoke to the Gozo Tourism Authority, Gozo Channel Ltd. and the Gozo Business Chamber to ask about how the past month was for Gozo in terms of benefits to establishments and number of visitors. It turns out that this January broke all previous records for shoulder months, and this year’s incentives worked better than expected.
Chief Executive Officer of Gozo Tourism Authority, Joe Muscat said that during the shoulder period, pedestrian passengers and vehicular traffic to Gozo increased. “Establishments, particularly restaurants, and especially restaurants in Mgarr, have reported better clientele and the accommodation sector is also benefitting,” he said.
He also said the weather was a big factor in the increase of visitors to Gozo, however the lower tariffs had a big hand in Maltese crossing over to Gozo. In order to help the accommodation sector, the tariffs were also extended to Sundays as well, rather than until Saturday, so that visitors can enjoy another night in Gozo and still benefit from the lower tariffs. “Guest Houses and hotels are doing better, with no real rise in the Farmhouse industry. Foreign visitors also tend to visit Gozo irrespective of tariffs, and it shows that there was also an increase this year.”
He said the increase in the number of pedestrians was also, in part, due to the fact that public transport in Gozo has always been of a good standard and remains so despite all the changes in systems.
Gozo is clearly benefitting
Executive Chairman of Gozo Channel Ltd., Joe Cordina said the sister island is clearly benefitting because every person who visits has a direct impact on Goo’s economy, even if someone buys a just a soft drink. “The lower tariff scheme for shoulder months has worked very well this year with a huge increase in visitors this January 2016 in comparison to January 2015. In fact there was a 20.4% increase in passengers with a 21.8% increase in vehicles, breaking all previous records,” he said. Approximately 150,000 people crossed from Malta to Gozo this month with one particular weekend showing figures usually consistent with peak months.
Discounts are always good
President of Gozo Business Chamber Michael Galea said the figures show a clear rise in passengers over the weekends. “I can’t say I was too surprised because discounts always look good to the Maltese public where they know the money they are saving on their passage to Gozo can go towards spending in a department store or a restaurant.”
He continued: “However, we want to keep insisting that Gozo shouldn’t only remain a weekend destination. That being said, we have seen a rise in foreign visitors as a direct result of Gozo being marketed as a separate destination, rather than a place to visit while in Malta.”
He said that what has also worked very well was creating certain niches for Gozo, like making it a Christmas Island in 2015, for example. “We are also very hopeful about the investments the government has made with regards to medical tourism which are sure to help the shoulder periods more.”
He said there is a need to focus on particular niches such as services which provide bicycle or quadbike rentals; shooting ranges; operas and other cultural events. “In fact, I believe the Cultural Calendar for Gozo should be given a lot more exposure as it is bound to help Gozo invaluably in terms of foreign tourism,” he cocluded.