The number of passengers who travelled from Malta to Gozo for the Santa Marija weekend increased by 5% when compared to the same week last year.

According to the Gozo Channel CEO, Joe Cordina, this year’s tourist traffic was even busier than the last one. Mr Cordina did not divulge the exact number of passengers who travelled by ferry these last few days as statistics are still being compiled.

Joe Muscat, President of the Gozo Tourism Association said that like any other year, the period of Santa Marija gets the business wheel going. He said the week of Santa Marija always brings along a lot of positive results.

“We are still waiting for the official statistics showing the number of people who visited the island, but from what we noticed, it appears there has been an increase,” he said in comments to this newsroom.

Mr Muscat noted that this year’s tourists have dispersed throughout the entire island, apart from the usual touristic hotspots such as Marsalforn and Xlendi.

A high concentration of people gathered on Monday for the feast of Santa Marija which is enthusiastically celebrated in the island’s capital, Victoria.

He explained that those who visited Victoria had the opportunity to admire the renovation at the Citadella.