It is somehow ironic that economic success can have unexpected side effects, especially when what was lacking for a long time turns into a fast-growing affluence beyond one's expectations.

The growth-rate of the tourist industry is a case in point. According to a recent Deloitte analysis commissioned by MHRA, the hospitality industry continued to experience growth in the first quarter of this year but key players have insisted that they are facing problems due to a labour shortage. The employment situation in Malta has never been better, but while tourist arrivals, hotel guest nights and restaurant patronage numbers are up, industry employers are facing challenges in finding enough workers.

More jobs than workers

They argue that the issue of work-permits for non-EU nationals is taking a long time, but Jobs Plus was processing 1,800 non-EU nationals' employment licence applications per month in 2017, and this has risen to 2,600 in 2018. The question we have to address here is what is keeping our own job-seekers from an industry that can provide job security and mobility. One should question whether job-satisfaction through good and respectable work conditions are on offer, or whether those looking for employment are often attracted to more exciting careers in other sectors.

Such questions further justify the scientific Skills Analysis I commissioned on taking office at the Gozo Ministry almost a year ago, soon after discussing such challenges with the relative constituted bodies in Gozo. True to Labour's resolve for job creation for Gozitans in Gozo, the fast developments in the employment scenario are to be well-reviewed in order to be pro-active and pre-empt such instances as those mentioned by this week's study by Deloitte.

The fact is that during the first three months this year - usually considered as shoulder months - tourist arrivals in Gozo increased by almost 19 per cent, while guest nights rose by nearly 18.5 per cent. The average length of stay remained stable, while tourist expenditure was up by more than 14 per cent. In the first three months of this year, the number of restaurant patrons was also up - at 52 per cent tourists and 48 per cent locals. This means that Maltese and Gozitan families have significantly become a growing and reliable clientele for this sector - yet another direct effect of better income and higher spending power.

Gozo's tourism

The National Statistics Office reported this week that in the first quarter of this year, the number of guests and nights spent in Gozo and Comino collective accommodation rose by 7.7 per cent and 10.1 per cent on last year, amounting to 16,231 and 43,963 respectively. The average length of stay in Gozo and Comino during this period remained stable at 2.7 nights, while the net occupancy rate increased by four per cent to 31.2 per cent.

It gives me pride to note that there is overall acknowledgement that the frequent celebratory and entertainment events organised by the Gozo Ministry during the last few months have greatly contributed to this success. Last weekend's Gozo Alive! festival mobilised the island - with local councils and various cultural organisations participating wholeheartedly in the event. The three-day festival was a real showcase of what Gozo has to offer - both to its own communities and to thousands of tourists - in the entertainment field. Thousands of people packed the main squares of Victoria on Saturday evening for musical concerts and artistic performances, in addition to more activities held in each locality during the day.

As Gozo Tourism Association CEO Joe Muscat said, such festivals further confirm Gozo as a distinct tourist destination. We all know that Gozo has potential as a destination for entertainment that is suitable for the whole family and for all ages. The film, food and folklore festivals, together with the international jazz, choir and organ concerts held so far, have all proved successful, spurring us on to organise more crowd-pulling events on the island.

New projects

Less than a week after Gozo Alive!, together with Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi, I co-launched Abode on the Rock - a popular festival with thousands of British tourists who will be visiting Gozitan shores next month. This latest festival adds to the island's event calendar, and is another boost to the festival tourism niche, which the Gozo Ministry is keen to see growing, in close cooperation with the Ministry for Tourism and the Malta Tourism Authority.

The Abode on the Rock organisers said that the festival will be taking over the island of Gozo for its first ever international festival, promising boat parties, multiple events and a huge DJ line-up. It will be held on the weekend of 8-10 June. The daytime events will take place below Ramla Bay and those at night in Xlendi. Overall, the event will both directly and indirectly have on impact on the island's economy.

This first-ever festival of its kind in Gozo is in line with our aim to organise different events every month - with activities targeting different groups and attracting different audiences to the island. As MTA chairman Gavin Gulia said, we strongly believe in Festival Tourism as these events usually take place out of the peak season and provide a reason for younger visitors to visit the Maltese Islands for the first time.

The tourism strategy for Gozo is fast taking shape, with an approved masterplan for Marsalforn, another one for Xlendi on its course, while that for Comino already drawn up and submitted to the Environment and Resources Authority for their comments and necessary approvals.

Malta and Albania in Gozo

The Gozo Plenary Session of the Malta-Albania Business Forum was held in Gozo for the first time this week. President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca pointed out that Gozo has its own particular characteristics and has great potential for more business to develop. The Session was also addressed by the President of the Republic of Albania, Ilir Meta.

The Gozo Plenary Session was organised because we are convinced that the business communities of both countries will find relevant counterparts to explore possibilities of potential collaboration and partnership. These can be realised in different areas of interest including financial services, construction, healthcare, education and training, transhipment and logistics, tourism, hospitality, and the teaching of English as a foreign language. President Coleiro Preca said tourism is not only an economic operation, but should be seen as an opportunity for person-to-person connections and friendship-building between our two nations.

Welcoming the Albanian Trade delegation to Gozo, I described the island as experiencing an economic growth without precedent - especially in the past five years - with a substantial increase in Gross Domestic Product of €80 million. This is forecast to develop further due to current and planned ambitious projects for the island.

Quality leap ahead

Gozitan businesses are to take this quality step forward to explore new opportunities. Over the years, the Gozitans have had to overcome various obstacles - which has helped form their national identity and ambitious character. Minister Chris Cardona further defined the historic event, saying that it is proof that the bilateral relationship between our countries is geared towards enhancing our economies' competitiveness with the rest of the world, whilst contributing to economic growth and job creation.

The success achieved in various sectors of the national economy over the last five years should encourage us to work harder and achieve even better results, for the benefit of future generations.