Gozo Tourism Authority publishes budget proposals

Tourism continues to be one of the hardest-hit sectors by the Coronavirus pandemic, and the outlook remains still uncertain for the remaining months of 2021.

Even destination Gozo experienced drops in tourist arrivals, as according to the latest Regional Statistics issued by NSO, and covering the twelve months of 2020, Gozo registered an expected decrease of 78% in foreign tourist arrivals in Gozitan accommodation over the same period of 2019.

Domestic tourism on the other hand is helping to mitigate the decrease emanating from the foreign arrivals. During the period January to December 2020, the number of domestic arrivals increased significantly by 61.8%, or 133, 217 arrivals more over the twelve months of 2019.

Against this scenario the tourism sector on Gozo now needs to look forward and beyond the covid pandemic.

The Gozo Tourism Association is still working and contributing in order to establish mitigating measures which would help to preserve the Gozitan tourism, but it is now looking beyond the covid crises and focusing on a proper restart and recovery.

Recently the Gozo Tourism Association has distributed as customary its Budget 2022 proposals to the competent authorities.

These proposals are intended to serve as mitigating measures which are still needed at this stage, as well as other measures encompassing medium to long term actions that should assist in the recovery of tourism and establish it back to its former position prior to covid.

Based on the preliminary assessment of the major adverse effects of the pandemic on the Gozitan tourism sector, the following five priority areas were identified that need special attention and assistance:

• Inter-Island Connectivity
• Fiscal Measures
• The Product
• Marketing
• Human resources