At a meeting with representatives of both the GTA and the GBC held at the Ministry for Gozo yesterday afternoon, the Minister for Gozo, Giovanna Debono, said, “Through continuous contact and collaboration between the Ministry for Gozo, The Gozo Tourism Association and the Gozo Business Chamber, since the establishment of these two representative Gozitan bodies, Government has taken important decisions in the interest of the tourism industry as well as the business community on the island of Gozo. Policies and decisions taken by Government were influenced by pro-active suggestions coming from both the GTA and GBC, and today we may say that they have borne and are bearing fruit.”

During the meeting the Minister presented the Gozo Tourism Association with €7,764 as a contribution by the Ministry for Gozo towards the publication of the by now popular Let’s Gozo magazine. As explained by Minister Debono, this was yet another initiative taken by the GTA with the support of the then Ministry for Investment, Industry and Information Technology, and the Ministry for Gozo in their endeavours to promote Gozo within the Domestic market.

The co-ordinated effort of all those involved has obtained successful results, with those opting to cross the channel for short breaks on Gozo increasing steadily. In fact, passengers carried by Gozo Channel ferries during 2007 reached a record with almost 3,800,000 passengers and over 1 million vehicles. This represents more than a 12% increase in ferried passengers and vehicles when compared to figures registered in 2003. What’s more important is the fact that considerable increases were registered during the less popular lean and shoulder months, which prove that the collective endeavours are achieving results.

Increases in figures obtained within the tourism sector obviously reflect an increase in the generation of economic activity on the island, due to this industry’s high ripple effect. Thus members of the Gozo Business Chamber, are also positively effected by success in the tourism industry. However entrepreneurs on the island have to face particular challenges principally posed by the island’s double insularity.

The Ministry for Gozo said it has continuously endeavoured to alleviate these challenges through the support and effective collaboration with the Gozo Business Chamber. This Chamber has also contributed towards the identification of particular adversities particularly those which curtail sustainable business activity and the creation of jobs on the island of Gozo. Minister Debono also presented financial assistance amounting to €4,825 to the President of the Gozo Business Chamber, intended to finance the services of a manager who will provide the required expertise for better administration. This would also include the promotion of the Gozo business sector as an effective means of job creation on the island.

Mr Paul Scicluna (President) and Mr Joe Muscat (Secretary) represented the GTA council, while Mr Joe Grech, President of the Gozo Business Chamber was accompanied by Mr Joe Grech (CEO). They expressed their appreciation of the Ministry’s continuous support to their respective entities during the past years.

Both the Gozo Tourism Association and the Gozo Business Chamber were established in 1999 on the initiative of the Hon. Giovanna Debono during her first term as Minister for Gozo. Both these representative bodies have developed into effective mechanisms characterising the economic and touristic potential of the island of Gozo.