We are approaching mid-August, a period generally considered to be the busiest of the year for Gozo. While many parts of the western world take a break and stop for a few days or week, Gozo seems to move into top gear at this particular time of the year.

People living permanently on the island accept that the usual pattern of their daily life will be disrupted. More people, more cars, less space but more business and more activities. A few years ago, August was viewed with a degree of hope but also anxiety as it meant the difference between covering the losses incurred throughout most of the year or remain in the red for the rest of the year. Those familiar with local issues still recall how the Santa Marija period was considered a sort of ‘rescue period’ which somehow compensated for many months where businesses barely managed to cover fixed costs.

Fortunately, we managed to overcome this situation. Although still viewed positively, August no longer represents the do-or-die month for the tourism sector in Gozo. A good return during this period is always welcome but no longer serves as an ‘existential’ solution for the majority of businesses in Gozo.

This shift did not occur by coincidence or through exogenous interventions. It was thanks to the careful planning by this administration and the resulting measures carried out during the last three years. Seasonality is still present but it no longer such a main concern. Still, the Ministry is unwavering in its effort to continue with our work to spread the arrivals over the entire year and hence help smooth the pace of activities. However, we are conscious that summer will always be summer and tourist arrivals will always peak during these months.

Talking about summer, it gives me great pleasure to note the generally high level of organisation that is evident in our main tourist related zones. Nowadays, thanks to the investment in the infrastructure carried out throughout the year, Marsalforn and Xlendi provide better facilities that help both local and foreign visitors to enjoy their time among us. Nevertheless, there are still areas that need to be upgraded and improved and we will be doing our best to finish them during the coming year.

A further interesting development that can be noted is the increased activities taking place in many of our village centres. Even a brief glance will be enough to note the number of establishments that have mushroomed in practically all our villages. These range from restaurants to bars, from bed and breakfast to boutiques hotels. This is due to a renewed interest by visitors to experience the local way of living which in turn is driving a sustained demand for these products and services. People also seem to appreciate the more relax and laid-back atmosphere that generally is more present in villages when compared to a faster pace in tourist oriented areas.

This again vindicates our decision to invest heavily in our villages and town centres. The work undertaken in localities such as Qala, Xewkija, and Ghajnsielem helped to complement the investment made by the private sector in terms of restaurants and bars. This helped to enrich the Gozo experience.

I have mentioned this already in previous contributions, but cannot put enough emphasis on it. The sea and sun, the good food and our rich culture are not enough to make visitors come back for more. These represent the background. It is the experience and memories that they take with them that attract them to our island and make them willing to spend their hard-earned money to come back. And this experience is made up of many little things, of little encounters, of several instances. As an administration and policy-makers, we can develop the infrastructure and provide incentives but it is up to each and every one of us to help our visitors enjoy their stay.

Dr Refalo is Minister for Gozo