The Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Communications, Austin Gatt, has announced that by the end of this year, the Government will be privatizing the yacht marinas administered by the Malta Maritime Authority, which includes the marina at Mgarr, Gozo.

The Minister said that the scope is to foster a competitive yacht marina sector with the participation of various market players and to upgrade the service level that boat owners receive through investment and modernisation of such yacht marina facilities.

Minister Gatt said that Government will be adopting a holistic approach, assessing the possibilities of meeting the future demand for berthing space by developing 1,000 new berthing spaces.

The Minister added that Government intends to heavily involve the private sector in this implementation, with the aim to make Malta a yachting destination – indeed a total yachting experience.

The Malta Maritime Authority will be consulting the yachting industry stakeholders at all development stages. The Ministry concluded that to succeed in this endeavor there has to be an increase in berthing spaces, quality service in all yacht marinas and the right conditions for the sector to grow and prosper.