Gozo’s hunting season is open all year round.” That’s the impression tourists, especially those opting for a farmhouse holiday, are currently getting of the island where, supposedly, “time stood still”.

The Gozo Tourism Association receives a number of complaints every day about the “shooting sounds” being heard all over Gozo, especially in the countryside.

Our queries led us to the source of this complaint – an ingenious contraption aimed at scaring birds away from crops, in other words a modern-day scarecrow.

Is it possible that in a civilization that has made so much progress, in a country that thinks it is part of modern Europe, we still have not understood the term interdependence?

Is it possible that in order to save their crops, these farmers are oblivious of the fact that these “noisy scarecrows” are not only driving away their feathery foes, but are a cause of irritation to residents in the vicinity be they local or foreign?

Is it possible they do not realise that by safeguarding their crops in this manner, they are driving away their consumers and thus shooting themselves in the foot?

Tourism is the Gozitan economy’s lifeline. Unless every single Gozitan, whether he is directly involved in the industry or indirectly involved through its multiplier effect, realises this undeniable fact, we will never be able to sustain what we have achieved so far in this sector. Furthermore, we will be jeopardising the future of this vital industry on our island. The Gozo Tourism Association strongly appeals to the competent Authorities to look into this matter and remedy the situation without delay before further damage is done.

In an island of Gozo’s dimensions and in the absence of other major industries, agriculture and tourism can be termed as two pillars of its economy that provide a substantial source of employment. Two main industries such as these should not ignore each other’s needs in order to selfishly protect their own interest. They must co-operate and correlate their activities for the mutual benefit of their respective sectors and, most importantly, for the general well being of its inhabitants.

Joe Muscat

Secretary

Gozo Tourism Association