NEWS | Wednesday, 08 August 2007

Increased tourism to Gozo expected

Santa Marija festivities are just around the corner and Gozo is preparing itself for a heavy influx of tourists heading over to celebrate. The Gozo Channel Shuttle Service will be in full steam to cope with the masses expected to travel the channel between Malta and Gozo. This is aimed to reduce delays as much as possible as a result of the heaving amount of tourists, both local and foreign, expecting to enjoy their celebrations in Gozo.
According to George Borg, commercial manager of Gozo Channel Company Limited, an increase of passengers is expected this August and they will be preparing themselves for the throng of people who will be making use of their services.
“If one is to follow the statistics compiled by the Gozo Channel staff, an increase can be seen over the years so more passengers can be expected for August this year. However, the week after Santa Marija is when we are usually at our busiest because it is when people are all heading off home.”
Throughout July of this year, the Gozo Channel Ferries have seen an increase of 23, 642 passengers and 7, 972 cars and cargo since July 2006. In July 2006, a count of 397, 271 passengers and 96, 363 cars and cargo boarded the ferries to and from Gozo, whereas in July 2007 statistics show 420, 913 passengers and 104, 335 vehicles boarded the ferries.
It is early days for August statistics although according to previous years, 2006 showed a decrease of passengers of approximately 1, 440, but there was an increase of 3, 067 cars and cargo.