The Ministry for Gozo has said that the last four days of June developed into a considerable tourism related activity in Gozo as both foreign and Maltese tourists visited the island over the long weekend.

Between Friday, the 26th and Monday, the 29th of June, Gozo Channel said that it ferried 62,760 passengers and 17,064 vehicles between the two islands. This signified an increase of around 9,000 passengers & 3,000 vehicles when compared to the same days of last year.

The Ministry said that the fact that Monday was a public holiday seems to have had a positive effect with a number of Maltese families choosing to spend the long weekend on the island.

According to Gozo Channel figures, crossings by Maltese residents started on Friday with a considerable number returning to Malta between Sunday and Monday.

This, the Ministry said, was confirmed through a positive situation registered by tourism establishments in Gozo, especially those related to accomodation including hotels, guesthouses, apartments and farmhouses.

The touristic activity on land was complemented by the arrival of two cruise ships, that called at Mgarr Harbour within 24 hours from each other. Around 300 passengers who are currently cruising on the Club Med II, had the opportunity to stop in Gozo for a few hours as the ship anchored near Gozo early on Monday morning.

Around two hundred passengers on the luxurious Royal Clipper arrived in Gozo the next day. These passengers were taken around the Gozitan coast and Comino, and later were dropped ashore at Mgarr Harbour.

Besides the commercial activity they generate, such visits also serve as direct promotion of the Gozitan touristic product that makes the island of Gozo, a distinct tourist destination.

Thus the Ministry concluded, the activity generated in Gozo during the past days gains more value especially during this time, when the tourism sector is challenged by the particularly difficult economic situation in international markets.