A return ticket which can be purchased from both the Cirkewwa terminal in Malta and the Mgarr terminal in Gozo is the most effective method for Gozo Channel to curb abuse, according to the CEO of the Gozo Tourism Association.
Joe Muscat was replying to questions by this newspaper after it revealed how people were crossing from Malta to Gozo on Gozo Channel ferries but using smaller boats, which charge much less, to come back. Tourists and Maltese people alike have been witnessed doing this.
With the current system, passengers are not issued with tickets and do not pay when crossing from Malta to Gozo. Tickets are only sold from the Mgarr terminal in Gozo.
GTA CEO Joe Muscat said he completely agreed with Gozo Channel that is unacceptable that people were getting free rides and that system should not be abused.
“The Gozo Tourism Association is in total agreement with the introduction of the Ferry Ticketing system at Cirkewwa terminal. This will definitely stop the abuse of organised crossing for free, when people use the ferry to travel to Gozo but use other transport providers to return.”
Muscat explained that having ticketing booths in both Malta and Gozo terminals will divide the pressure. He also believes that, while boarding at Cirkewwa might take a little bit longer, this will not affect the flow of traffic.
“I believe this is the best solution for now; a system where you can get a 2-way/return ticket from both Gozo and Malta, meaning you always have a ticket with you and you only need to buy this ticket once, so it does not create extra hassle for passengers,” Muscat explained.
Furthermore, a ferry ticketing system in place at the Cirkewwa terminal would improve passenger boarding at Cirkewwa, similar to the terminal in Mgarr.
“The introduction of such a system will require additional manpower, however it will also help to distribute more evenly the purchase of tickets both at the Mgarr and Cirkewwa terminals,” Muscat said.
The GTA chief said he was in favour of a return ticket, rather than making passengers buy single-trip tickets every time they boarded the ferry, as this would disrupt the flow.
Gozo Channel chairman Joseph Cordina had told The Malta Independent that the ferry company was aware of the problem, which has been going on for a number of years and increased in summer, with groups of small boats docking near the Mġarr terminal in Gozo and picking up passengers returning to Malta.
Cordina said it was ‘unbelievable that the Cirkewwa terminal was designed in a way that it could not have a ticketing system. The company will be issuing a tender to make some alterations to the terminal to accommodate a ticketing system. What changes will be made to the ticketing system is still under consultation.