A number of tour leaders who spoke to The Malta Independent said their groups wonder why they had paid so much money to visit Gozo, usually for the day, if upon arrival they see such a sight which can be considered as a disgrace and which certainly does not give a good first impression of the island.

Their initial bad impression, however, changes as they spend their day in Gozo, as there are other areas which are still unspoilt.

“This is the first sight tourists are greeted with when they alight from the ferry. It is their first impression of Gozo. The overflowing skips are full of Gozo Channel garbage bags and behind them is the site of the unfinished sea-passenger terminal. It is as bad as it gets,” one tour leader said.

He said all that is needed is for the skips to be relocated elsewhere and temporary boards could be erected to conceal the building site. At least tourists will not be greeted with this view on their arrival in Gozo. These boards would be ideal as advertising space, he said.

The Mgarr Harbour development, currently under way, includes a semi-underground car park that has already been completed. Work is, however, currently on hold in view of discussions regarding the possible re-dimensioning of the whole project. Communications and Transport Minister Censu Galea has said in parliament that the project is under review in order to improve on the plans that have already been submitted.

Around Lm8.2 million has been spent so far on a project to improve the two ferry terminals at Mgarr and Cirkewwa.

This included the reclamation of 11,000 square metres of land in Cirkewwa and the construction of a new berth and the extension of the existing breakwater there, and the construction of the semi-underground car park at Mgarr.

The continuation of the project is awaiting the outcome of the discussions.