Special land and sea transport arrangements have been made to facilitate access to Victoria and the Citadel in Gozo for the first edition of Lejlet Lapsi – Notte Gozitana which will be held during the weekend of 18-20 May.

This was announced at a news conference addressed by Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech and Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono.

A special bus service leaving from Valletta, Cospicua, Luqa, Birkirkara, Mosta, Paola, Qormi and Sliema to Cirkewwa will depart on a shuttle system on Saturday 19 May from 2pm to 6pm, making it possible for members of the public who would like to attend the events on Saturday, to travel to Gozo and back by public transport. A return trip from Cirkewwa to Valletta and all the designated areas will be available from 1.30am to 5.30am on Sunday.

A special bus service will also be available in Gozo from Mgarr Harbour to Victoria from 5.30pm to midnight on Saturday, and a return shuttle service from Victoria to Mgarr Harbour from midnight of Saturday to 4.30am on Sunday.

For the benefit of those who will already be on the island, including Gozitans and weekend visitors, another special bus service will be made available from all 13 villages in Gozo as well as Xlendi and Marsalforn bays to Victoria, departing every 45 minutes from 6.30pm to 10.15pm (except from Kercem, with buses departing from 6.15pm to 10pm). A return shuttle service will be available every hour from midnight on Saturday to 3am on Sunday.

Since the heart of the town will be closed off to vehicles, three temporary bus termini will be set up at the outskirts of Victoria:

• at Kennedy Square receiving public transport from Nadur, Qala, Ghajnsielem, Xewkija and Xaghra;

• at Pope John Paul II Street, for public transport servicing Zebbug, Ghasri, Gharb, San Lawrenz, Kercem and Santa Lucija; and

• at Carolina Cauchi Street, receiving public transport from Xlendi, Munxar and Sannat.

Yet another special transport service, provided by minibuses, will be available for the elderly and persons with special needs from the temporary bus termini in Pope John Paul II Street and Kennedy Square to the town centre.

Gozo Channel Co. Ltd will also be offering a special sea transport arrangement, with a shuttle service operated between Cirkewwa and Mgarr. The service on Friday 18 May and Saturday 19 May, from noon to midnight will be offered at a specially-reduced fare of Lm3.60 for a driver and car, and 60c for foot passengers.

In addition to the sea and land transport arrangements, special consideration has been given to the provision of food and beverage services for Saturday noon and night. A special restaurant area will be set up at Main Gate Street (instead of the bus terminus) with several Gozo restaurants offering an à la carte menu.

A take-away area will be set up at George Borg Olivier Street, while restaurants and bars established in Victoria are being encouraged to extend their services through the night.

Public conveniences will remain open through the night, while temporary public toilets will be set up in several areas.

Several first aid points will also be set up to complement the services offered by the Victoria Health Centre and the Gozo General Hospital, both situated in Victoria.

A programme of events that includes a detailed map of all venues as well as a list of all services made available has been printed and will be distributed to all households in Malta and Gozo as from tomorrow, with extra copies to be made available on board the Gozo Channel ferries as well as in Victoria during the night of Saturday 19 May.

It is being recommended that the public attending the events plan their weekend or night out in advance.

Lejlet Lapsi – Notte Gozitana is being organised by the two ministries, sponsored by the National Lotteries Good Causes Fund – Ministry of Finance, Bank of Valletta, Air Malta and Gozo Channel Company Limited and supported by the Victoria Local Council, the Malta Tourism Authority, the Gozo Tourism Association and BPC.

Further information can be obtained by phoning on tel.: 2155-9832, or via email to: [email protected].

One may also visit the website on: www.gozoculture.com.