The chief executive officer of the Gozo Tourism Association, Joe Muscat, told The Malta Independent on Sunday that “we cannot allow Gozo to become like Malta.”

Well, it’s already too late for that. Because Gozo has become too much like Malta.

Over the past years, and particularly in the last decade, Gozo has lost most of its charm and unique characteristics, largely because of over-development. In a survey that the GTA itself published earlier this month, before the interview with Muscat was conducted, respondents said that their main concern about Gozo is over-development.

But, again, it’s already too late for that too. Because the construction industry in Gozo has been allowed to take over, its tentacles reaching out to areas which were previously open spaces. And more applications for building permits abound.

Just look at photos comparing what Gozo used to look like, not so long ago, with what Gozo looks like today.

Can Xlendi continue to be described as a quaint, picturesque seaside village? No, it cannot, because it has become a hodgepodge of buildings towering over each other as development continues to eat into the valley.

Can Marsalforn continue to be described as an attractive, charming seaside resort? No, it cannot, because, like Xlendi, buildings and more buildings have been allowed to take over.

But it is not only Xlendi and Marsalforn, two highly popular areas, especially among Maltese holiday-makers, that have lost much of their appeal. Other localities have seen big changes in the last years, with most spreading wider and higher so much so that the distance between villages has become shorter.

Gozo has not escaped the increase in population phenomenon that has hit Malta in the last 10 years. And therefore, it has become more crowded, a situation that is further exacerbated when thousands of Maltese flock to the island for the weekend.

This has inevitably meant a heavy impact on the traffic flow, in particular in the heart of Victoria. Not to mention the long waiting time to board ferries, both at the Mgarr and the Cirkewwa ends of the transport system, which struggles to meet with the demand.

In other comments to this media house, Muscat also said that the Gozo tourism sector should refrain from increasing prices across the board; instead, he said, price adjustments should reflect the direct impact that inflation has on the specific service or product.

Muscat was indirectly acknowledging the fact that some entrepreneurs are raising prices indiscriminately, and he was suggesting that this abuse should stop. It has been said, time and again, that Gozo has become overpriced and that this could hamper its tourism industry because other destinations abroad offer cheaper alternatives, which are reachable via low-cost airlines that offer a myriad solutions.

Thousands of Maltese still prefer a weekend break in Gozo, which has become an all-year-round destination except for the rare occasions when the sea is extremely rough. Gozo still relies heavily on Maltese tourism for its economy.

But the more over-developed Gozo becomes, the more it will continue to lose its uniqueness. What was lost cannot be brought back, but we should make it a point not to lose the little that remains.