Dr Gatt said that late last year he had attended a meeting organised by the Gozo Business Chamber, in which he tried to discuss the restructuring process the Gozo Channel would have to undergo.
He said that when he started explaining the company’s problems, the chamber’s president had told him that they were not interested in Gozo Channel’s problems, adding that these were the government’s problem and that the meeting had been called for other reasons.
Dr Gatt was commenting on the chamber’s complaints that the tariff raise was done without consultation. He said that after this sort of reaction there was no consultation to make.
Minister Gatt also said at the meeting he was accompanied by a delegation that included the company’s CEO and Chairman, adding that these last two were asked to leave the meeting.
He also criticised a report issued recently by Deloitte and Touche, which equates the rise in tariffs with a decrease in the Gozitan economy. Dr Gatt said he was not convinced with this sort of calculation, adding that “the proof of the pudding was in the eating.”
He claimed that the report contained wrong information, erroneously mentioning a decrease in the use of Gozo Channel services following the tariff raise under the Labour administration. He said this was not true, adding that, on the contrary, statistics show that while the number of passengers on foot remained the same, vehicle ticket sales increased. Dr Gatt was speaking at a press conference to announce Gozo Channel’s new Frequent Traveller Scheme. The scheme is designed to reward customers who use the company’s service frequently and is aimed for weekenders, tourists, people who have a second home in Gozo, businesses that offer their services in Gozo and those who visit the island for a few hours of entertainment.
The incentives come in the form of period passes ranging from six-week passenger tickets of five trips costing some Lm9 to year passes of 30, 40 or 52 trips costing Lm40.20, Lm44.80 and Lm46.80 respectively. The scheme applies for vehicle passes as well which are referred to in the table below.
The company’s Chairman Maurice Zarb Adami announced that the Gozo Channel will be issuing tickets as part of the Gozo by Night scheme with which people visiting the island for a night will save considerably.
So far, Mr Zarb Adami explained, a group of four passengers – one of which the driver – with a car, visiting for the night pay some Lm12. With the new ticket they will be paying Lm4. Similarly, four passengers on foot will pay Lm3 instead of Lm8.
The return ticket for the “dinner pass” will be open between 12.15 am and 4am in summer. In winter, cars will only be able to travel back to Cirkewwa up to 12.30am. Passengers on foot would be able to use the Night service boats at 2am and 4am.
The summer time night tickets are only available for weekdays excluding Fridays and public holidays while the winter time pass will be available throughout the week.
Minister Gatt pointed out that those who will be purchasing yearly tickets for 52 trips will be halving what they pay now, while those buying a three month ticket for eight trips will be paying as much as they used to before the tariffs were increased.
Dr Gatt said the scheme was not cast in stone, adding that the company will revise or add to it if the need arises. Asked whether the scheme was based on some sort of research, Dr Gatt said there was no historical data upon which to carry out that sort of research, which is why the company will be reviewing the scheme some time after summer.
The minister said that in a recent meeting with the Gozo Business Chamber, Gozo Channel had said that 10 per cent of the company’s profits will fund more incentive schemes. Dr Gatt said that the Ministry will be meeting the Chamber together with the Gozo Tourism Association, the Malta Tourism Association, the Gozo Ministry and the Gozo Channel regularly, as part of the the Gozo Channel Traffic Promotional Forum set up recently. The Forum aims at promoting internal tourism towards Gozo, particularly during low periods.