The Gozo Tourism Association hopes that the positive trend in the tourism sector stretches through the shoulder months to mitigate the seasonality factor, GTA president Joe Muscat told The Malta Independent.

“Although we are still collecting feedback from hoteliers and self-catering accommodation operators, it was evidently a very busy Sta Marija weekend,” Mr Muscat said. Summer 2011 was on the whole quite positive, he added, with both the Maltese and foreign arrivals being generous, when compared with previous years.

There was a noticeable high demand for self-catering accommodation, which offers some 4,800 registered beds. There are only 1,700 beds available in hotels.

He noted that the numbers of Maltese people who own a second home in Gozo is slowly increasing. This development does not essentially affect the self-catering accommodation. On the other hand, it leaves a positive impact on the retailers and service providers who are not intrinsically linked with tourism.

“Those Maltese families who opt to spend their holidays in their Gozo second home prefer to use services offered by Gozo’s SMEs whether they need to buy new furniture or their white goods. Although they spend their holidays in their own homes, they also purchase foodstuffs and eat out regularly while they enjoy their free time here. Therefore every sector of Gozo’s economy benefits,” he said.

“We hope that the success continues throughout the end of the summer and stretches into the shoulder months as it would be positive to build enough momentum to keep us going through the winter months to mitigate seasonality,” he said.