Easter in Gozo was another success this year and I am very pleased with the Gozo Channel figures in terms of the number of visitors that Gozo saw during this festive week. In fact, compared to last year there was a 10.6 per cent increase in the number of passengers, increasing to 29.7 per cent when compared to 2013, that crossed over for the Easter weekend. This indicates that this administration’s incessant work to organize activities to attract different types of visitors to Gozo all year round is bearing fruit. Each year, the number of religious activities organized by the different localities in Gozo continues to grow thus increasing the attraction of Gozo during Easter. This has multiplier effects on many sectors of the economy on not only hotels, restaurants and entertainment outlets, but also Gozo’s cultural events, such as exhibitions showing local talent and religious events where volunteer work must not go unmentioned.
However, Easter week is not the only time this year that saw an increase in economic activity here. The cultural calendar my Ministry works to develop over the whole year does give results and this encourages the many people involved in its organization to continue to improve year after year. During the weekend after Easter, there were several activities organized, but Saturday particularly was fully packed with events. Gozo Channel figures also showed a three per cent increase in passengers compared to the same weekend in April 2016, and a significant 28.6 per cent increase when compared to April 2014.
One of the new entries in the cultural calendar is the international fireworks festival. This is the second year this festival has Gozo on its agenda. In fact, this year Gozo launched the festival, which was very well received. This year we have gone a step further and organized other activities during the event. Similar to last year, the festival was spectacular and enjoyed by a large number of visitors. The event was held on Saturday evening in the surroundings of Xaghra, where the fireworks lit up the Xaghra valley.
On Saturday morning, the Science in the City edition was organized at the Cittadella, a first in our calendar. It was the perfect setting linking a historical treasure with modern scientific discoveries. The events organized were very popular and a significant number of people, particularly families, could see the possibilities that science offers to not only everyday life but also the promises it holds for the future. Such events are very much in line with government educational policy to encourage more young people to become interested in STEM subjects. Innovation and creativity were presented in different environments, ensuring that young and old got their grey matter working overtime outside traditional philosophical settings. Preparing for an unknown future means garnering all the skills to be flexible to meet and influence whatever lies ahead. Science is a means to be prepared for a number of eventualities and to make our life easier to manage. Furthermore, the EcoGozo department is giving its support so that this scientific experience is extended with a visit to Esplora. The aim is to hold the Science in the City event on an annual basis.
Complementing these are also art and photographic exhibitions, musicals, flower shows, and many other cultural activities. Gozo is vibrant with cultural events which sustain a growing and energetic economy and provides something for everyone.
I sincerely thank all the people who work tirelessly to ensure that a good programme reaches everyone and that Gozo remains the place to visit to relive history, enjoy culture and gain new knowledge. This administration continues to provide Gozo with the opportunities to ensure its economy develops and grows, offering jobs for everyone and giving businesses the milieu in which to flourish. It is heartening to have new offices opening in Gozo, the latest being Keen Ltd, a digital marketing agency, aiming to continue to grow and create more jobs.
It is with pleasure that together with colleagues Evarist Bartolo and Justyne Caruana, I visited the MaltaPost Document Management Centre, where 43 people with disabilities are working: scanning, digitizing and converting documents into electronic form. I feel this administration has shown that it is an inclusive society. This endeavour was possible with the collaboration of JobsPlus and the Lino Spiteri Foundation, which joined forces and trained these new workers. Private companies and government entities have also given their support to this initiative by providing their documentation to be processed, thus saving on office space in the process. Such an initiative clearly defines that by working together, everyone gains.
Dr Refalo is Minister for Gozo