While Gozo Channel passenger numbers have increased, they have not reached pre-pandemic levels, company chairman Joe Cordina told The Malta Business Weekly.
The National Statistics Office said this week that nearly 4.5 million passengers travelled between Malta and Gozo in 2021. The number of passengers went up by 677,711, or 18% when compared to 2020, amounting to a total of 4,451,692 passengers. This includes both the Gozo Channel ferry service and the fast ferry service. During 2021, the number of trips went up by 9,401 or 32.4%, when compared to 2020.
The total number of trips for 2021 amounted to 38,453. Vehicle movements between the islands increased by 175,491 or 11.3%, over the previous year, amounting to a total of 1,727,629.
Cordina said that “Although this is positive news, naturally we a not near the pre-pandemic levels for passengers. Of course, a reduction of inbound tourism has played its part here. In 2019 we recorded almost 6 million people utilised our services, however, the number of motor vehicles has resumed to around pre-pandemic levels. Increased connectivity, more trips and the addition of the fourth ferry have enabled us to continue to provide a reliable service,”
Gozo Fast Ferry CEO Edward Zammit Tabona welcomed the latest NSO figures, which clearly showed the importance of offering a fast ferry alternative that complemented Gozo Channel’s service. “Our scope as a company has always been to enhance inter-island connectivity, and these figures are particularly encouraging during a pandemic. As we get closer to one year from our launch, we look forward to welcoming more and more people on board.”
The CEO of the Gozo Business Chamber, Daniel Borg, told TMBW: “I think these dynamics need to be seen together with the trend in domestic tourism that Gozo has been experiencing in the pandemic. In fact the report by the National Statistics Office also highlights that, during January-December 2021, both passenger and vehicle traffic originating from Ċirkewwa was busiest on Fridays and Saturdays. On the other hand, from the Mġarr terminal passenger and vehicle traffic was highest on Saturdays and Mondays.”