Verdi's opera La Forza del Destino is being performed at the Aurora Theatre in Gozo on 13 October under the patronage of President Eddie Fenech Adami. It will be the first time the opera is being performed there.

The music will be executed by the National Orchestra, conducted by Mro Colin Attard, resident conductor at the theatre. Novella Tabili will be artistic director.

Those taking part include soprano Anda-Louise Bogza, as Donna Leonora di Vargas, tenor Vladimir Kuzmenko as Don Alvaro, baritone Marzio Giossi and soprano Nadia Petraiko.

Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said at the launch that the government's promotional activities for Gozo were yielding results with more tourists staying in Gozo. Even the results of the Gozo Channel Co proved this and he was sure tourism in Gozo would continue improving.

Finance Parliamentary Secretary Tonio Fenech said over Lm40,000 had been allocated from the National Lotteries Good Causes Fund for the Gozo Attractions Incentive Scheme.