Positive trends have been observed during the month of July and the first days of August in terms of tourism, Malta Tourism Authority CEO Paul Bugeja said.

“From initial data which has been collated, the indication is that hotels are quite strong in their booking forecast for this month and next month,” he said.

As for Gozo during the month of August, demand is exceeding supply in all types of accommodation.

Gozo Tourism Association CEO Joe Muscat said that as usual the accommodation sector featuring both the hotels and farmhouses is very busy during the month of August.

The busiest month of the season

“It is customary for an island destination like Gozo to have the month of August featuring as the busiest period of the whole summer season. More often than not during this month, the demand exceeds the supply in all types of accommodation.

“This year is no exception as during the month of August it is being reported to us that finding availability in the Gozitan accommodation is very difficult,” Mr Muscat said.

From the latest published NSO statistics covering the month of May, the Gozitan hotels and guesthouses registered an increase of 8.8% in arrivals and a 13.4% increase in bed nights. However, from the same NSO source it transpires that for the period covering January to May 2015 - when compared with the same period of last year - the collective accommodation on Gozo registered a cumulative drop of 5% in arrivals and 2.8% in bed nights.

On this point, Mr Muscat said that it is worth mentioning that this decrease was registered during the months of January and February during which part of period the two five-star hotels in Gozo were closed for refurbishment.

“It is also fair to note that the drops registered in the first two months of 2015 were partially made up for by the increases registered in the March, April and May period. The aforementioned figures correspond only to the hotels and guesthouses and no official figures are available for tourist arrivals and bed nights spent in the Gozitan farmhouses or apartments. Therefore these statistics do not reflect the whole Gozitan accommodation scenario,” he explained.

Bugeja calls for more coordination between all stakeholders

Mr Bugeja highlighted that NSO statistics show that the numbers - both in terms of tourist numbers and expenditure per tourist – have increased year after year in spite of an already high base.

“The main challenge to keep Malta’s product going is to ensure that we keep it continuously refreshed, innovative and active all year round.

“Synergies among all stakeholders need to be strengthened more, including better coordination within all government entities and authorities to ensure the objectives are met.

The main objective is to diversify and extend the season throughout the winter months,” he said.

Cruise liner tourism in Gozo

Mr Muscat said that usually, the tourists who disembark at the Grand Harbour spend their limited hours on the mainland. However, there are tourists who opt for a short visit to Gozo. “Generally these are picked up from the Grand harbour and fast ferried to Gozo, where they spend some time touring Gozo using the many services available.

“Gozo is also managing to attract smaller and more exclusive cruise ships that berth off Mgarr harbour for a number of hours.

“In fact there are 23 cruise ships scheduled to visit and berth off Gozo during the current year. Although the cruise passengers do not require accommodation, they create a spill over and demand on other services, thus adding to the Gozitan economic activity.

“We do believe however that the cruise liner sector can be exploited further, especially if a fast-ferry service is available between the two islands,” he said.

Although needed, infrastructural works in Gozo may impact tourism negatively

Mr Muscat said that the improvement of the Gozitan tourism product is an ongoing process with various projects including infrastructural ones, as well as embellishment initiatives, being carried out each year all over the island.

“During the implementation phase of these projects several inconveniences are created that might impact negatively on the tourism trade on Gozo. The timing of these works, as well as completion of the works within the agreed time-frames is essential.

“Works are also being carried out on a number of arterial roads which, when finalised, will definitely improve the image of Gozo as a tourist destination.

“Such infrastructural works cause a lot of inconvenience during the implementation time. “The upgrading of the tourism product is an oncoming development which is a must in every tourist destination.

“Yet it has to be well managed both during the implementation phase, as well as after these works are carried out,” Mr Muscat said.

Self-catering accommodation does affect restaurants to certain extent

Asked whether the fact that Maltese who go to Gozo during the summer months and stay in self-catering accommodation affects restaurants, he said it is a fact that Maltese people who opt for farmhouses or apartments do purchase foodstuffs from supermarkets and prepare their own meals as after all these accommodation units are geared up for self-catering.

“Although it does affect the Gozitan restaurants, yet it is also a known fact that one of their meals, either lunch or dinner, is actually taken at a restaurant,” Mr Muscat said.