The Santa Marija weekend in Gozo this summer is looking relatively busy despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Gozo Tourism Association (GTA) says that a significant amount of people have opted to book farmhouses, hotels and other accommodation as the island gears up for yet another different Santa Marija weekend due to the pandemic.
GTA’s CEO Joe Muscat highlighted that “when compared to other weekends this summer, we’ve seen a high demand for Santa Marija weekend. Despite this positive trend, there still is the fact that we will not be having an extended weekend similar to previous years, thus this will make an impact on Gozo’s tourism.”
The feast of the Assumption of Our Lady (Santa Marija) will be celebrated on Sunday 15 August.
Muscat noted that despite vaccinations, many locals are still quite cautious of the situation and of travelling. Therefore, many Maltese opt to visit Gozo instead.
This coming weekend is usually one of the busiest times of the summer season as both locals and foreigners celebrate the popular annual religious feast. A number of parishes across Malta and Gozo celebrate the feast of Santa Marija by holding a variety of activities.
In Gozo, the feast is usually celebrated in Victoria. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, village feast outdoor celebrations are currently prohibited.
The GTA is expecting the Santa Marija weekend to be very positive for tourism, despite restrictions and the Covid-19 situation in general.