Government has launched the Gozo Regional Development Strategy document on Friday, which has relegated the plans for the Gozo Tunnel project to the backburner, focusing on other investments to improve connectivity between Malta and Gozo.

The document highlights various other investments to improve connectivity between Malta and Gozo, effectively placing the idea of the tunnel on the back-burner. 

This investment includes more frequent Gozo Channel trips, the introduction of a fast ferry service, and plans to upgrade the Gozo heliport to serve as a permanent air link.

“In view of this, the project of linking Gozo and Malta by an underwater tunnel needs to be reconsidered and its cost-benefits trade-off re-examined,” the document says.

Prime Minister Robert Abela addressed a press conference for the document launch on Friday in Victoria, Gozo, highlighting the three principles of the strategy, proper use of urban and rural environment, economic growth for a better quality of life and added value to the Gozitan identity.

“Our vision for Gozo is clear, we want to strike a balance between economic activity and the social and environmental aspect of the island,” he said.

Abela said that Gozitans know the realities of Gozo best, and the government’s vision is to look at the unique characteristics and opportunities in the island.

He said that the strategy for Gozo must be distinct from that of Malta, with policies more specific and aimed at the island, respecting the economy, the environment, and society.

“Government is directing the investment, and we will start implementing from the upcoming Budget,” he said.

Abela said that the new vision for Gozo is being a motor for the economy, becoming a carbon neutral zone, projects for urban regeneration and rehabilitation as well as ensuring that Gozo is an island for opportunities.

Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri said government has long listened to the needs and wishes made by Gozitan families, NGOs, and businesses of where the island needs to be taken.

“We want to leave a better Gozo for our children, better than the one left by our forefathers,” Camilleri said, adding that the theme is for Gozo to be an island of towns and villages.

He said that the strategy will address the optimal use of land in the very small island, to further add value and reach targets in between of the progress which needs to be done, taking into consideration the environment.

Camilleri said there needs to be a balance between the Gozitan economy, as well as the environment. He also said that value needs to be added to the Gozitan identity, with people with a different mentality.

Camilleri continued that politics in Gozo should not be, nor should it need to be the same as the rest of Malta, and differences should be made between the two.

He said that three main sectors and priorities were identified in the strategy after a wide consultation.

The first being Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development in Gozo, where Camilleri said that context is key in this regard.

“All which happens in Gozo must respect its surroundings, as well as the street scape and architecture. We need to re-discover and use the natural materials found in the country,” Camilleri said, adding that what bothers citizens is the usage of bricks in buildings, contrasting to the look of the rest of the country.

Camilleri said that we must be more courageous and use limestone in our buildings once again, so that the unique characteristics emerge in our buildings.

He said that government must work more on open green spaces, as well as incentivize old buildings for rehabilitation, and ultimately, they can be occupied.

The second main sector the strategy will focus on is the accessibility and infrastructure of the island, where Camilleri said that while Gozo channel trips between the two islands have tripled, as well as the introduction of a fourth ferry, this cannot stop here.

“We are in the process of seeing the first facilitation which connects Malta and Gozo via the airfield, which will also extend to connect Gozo with other islands. This new investment will satisfy needs and incentivize quality tourists to come to Gozo,” Camilleri said.

The third sector involves rural development, as importance to quality will be given to traditional products made by local farmers and shepherds, with Camilleri saying that each product should include the story and experience of how it got from the farm to the table, to raise awareness with the public.

He continued that investment will be given to agriculture, the cleaning and rehabilitation of valleys as well as the traditional rubble walls.

Another sector the strategy gives focus to is the economic and human talent development, which will focus on the education for youths to guide them where they would like to grow, by investing in structures.

Camilleri also mentioned the Queen Mary University investment in Rabat, Gozo, where he said that this was a success which was not there before.

Another priority for Gozo is that it becomes an island for all-season tourism. Camilleri said that tourism in Gozo should not be focused on investing in the summer months only, but spread better around the year, to attract quality tourists towards the Gozitan identity, culture, food and way of living.

He said that sport tourism is another niche for more investment, which will reduce from Gozo’s seasonality. The diving sector is also in need for more investment, Camilleri said. Gozitan athletes must also be supported for opportunities to compete abroad, he said.

Camilleri said that there needs to be investment in facilities which will host athletes, and mentioned that in the coming months, the first and largest Aquatic Centre will be inaugurated, serving as a platform for sports and tourism in Gozo.

Another priority for Gozo is the social development in the island, where Camilleri described Gozo as quite conservative.

He said that there needs to be better programmes to better integrate immigrants in the country, through investment in education and work, so that they do not remain in a bubble of their own.

Camilleri continued that we must sustain the mentality for equality and love, which was shown in the Gozo EuroPride, to further establish Gozo as an inclusive island.

He said that further investment must be made towards the elderly, entailing valuing their experiences and contributions, and offer facilities to make their lives more comfortable.

On culture, heritage and arts, Camilleri said that Gozo is full of traditions and has a physical identity, such as churches, serving as a backdrop for culture, such as feasts, which all need to be invested in, in terms of human resources.

Camilleri said that the Gozo Regional Council has submitted a bid for Gozo to be chosen as Europe’s Cultural City for 2030, with the strategy serving as guidelines to invest in the island’s quality, to possibly be chosen.

CEO of the Gozo Regional Development Authority (GRDA) Mario Borg, which will be tasked with implementing the strategy in the document, created by Gozitans, for Gozitans, said that the basis of the strategy is a result of an extensive consultation with whomever has interest in Gozo.

Borg said that the strategy has multiple aims, and serves as an anchor for government, civil society and businesses in Gozo, serving as a guideline for the next 10 years.

The public consultation for the document involved many discussions and meetings on the future of Gozo in the coming years, Borg said. He said that the authority looked at shortcomings in Gozo, as well as opportunities while exploring options to move forward.

He said that the last part of the document is tied with the ambition for Gozo to become climate neutral before the rest of the country, in line with the country’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The next steps for the GRDA are to continue monitoring the progress of implementation of the strategy, Borg said.