After 17 years of visiting Gozo several times each year, I can say there is a big difference between how we, as tourists, and certain Maltese think about tourism.

I can speak also for all my friends who have visited me at my residence in Gozo. We appreciate Gozo for the clean sea, the space, the simplicity and the tranquillity. As Italians we like good food, (for our standards not easy to find on the island), good service and charm. We don’t care about big palatial hotels when we are here. We’d rather go to Mgarr-ix Xini for a grilled fish and a swim. We like long walks along the cliffs where the nature there is still not too spoiled.

Our dream is a nature park to protect the beauty of the sea in Dwejra, and the few remaining spots that still preserve that natural atmosphere which is no longer possible to find abroad. Of course it would be wonderful if there are amenities on Gozo that complement the natural environment.

But we would love a good spa with new machines for physical exercise. We are looking for something special, with zest.

Gozo is still beautiful and has a lot of potential to provide quality in a natural environment, but we think more building would ruin the island. It would be far better to improve the existing facilities in order to attract more of the five stars tourists everybody is talking about.

This is why we think that more hotels and villas are not a good idea. A place is unique when it offers something special. We are more than happy to pay for our hobz biz-zejt but the bread and the oil has to be of top quality. The best way to protect a heritage is to enhance it.

Michela Moro

Sannat, Gozo