Gharb local council, together with the Malta Tourism Society, The Maltese-Italian Chamber of Commerce, The Council of Sciacca and the Council of Castelvetrano in Sicily, is currently participating in the OBIMED Project.

This project aims at increasing cross border collaboration between Malta, Gozo and Sicily leading to a sustainable increase in economic activity for tourism operators in the respective territories through improving accessibility to local tourist attractions and the development of a common product offer aimed at countering the seasonal element that negatively affects operators in the tourism sector.

Coordination between territorial stakeholders and innovative technological tools such as iPhones, iPads and Android phone applications, WIFI areas, information kiosks equipped with booking systems as well as marketing media such as websites and promotional videos will lead to targeted marketing campaigns and the dissemination of information about the product offer available in the different territories and thus increase tourism inflows during the low season.

The project is co-financed under the Operational Programme Italy-Malta 2007-2013.

The project partners believe that, in order to fulfil all the project’s objectives, it is necessary to embark on a collective effort and secure the collaboration of all concerned. In fact, the project aims at developing constructive operative synergies between Italian, Maltese and Gozitan tourism operators, those in the territorial socio-economic sector and the Italian and Maltese entities responsible for promoting and administering the tourism aspect of the areas: Western Sicily and the Islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino. Therefore Gharb local council is inviting local tourism operators to participate in the OBIMED Project. Participants will be given the opportunity to market their services via the platform being developed by the project. 

Fully aware of the potential of European funding, Gharb local council has always sought to exploit such funding opportunities to carry out projects in its area for the benefit of its residents and the community at large. This project, in line with the council’s strategy to promote Gharb as a distinct tourist destination, will complement other projects that have already been implemented by the local council, including the EU-funded rehabilitation of Wied il-Mielaħ.

Further information about the project can be obtained by visiting the OBIMED website, www.obimed.eu