Tourism and Culture Minister Francis Zammit Dimech yesterday launched Verdi’s opera Macbeth, being performed at the Astra Theatre in Gozo on 25 and 27 October. Joseph Calleja will be playing Macduff.

The performances are among the activities of Gozo’s Festival Mediterranea, which is in its sixth edition this year.

Dr Zammit Dimech said tourism in Gozo this year has been positive, with five star hotels registering an 18 per cent increase in patronage when compared to last year. Room rates were six per cent higher for five star establishments, and 55 per cent higher for the four star category.