“Why is Gozo so insistent upon destroying all that is good upon the island? The development over the last ten years has been so frightful, that we have now reached the stage where we suggest to our friends that they should not go to the island anymore, but should find holiday spots which are more genuine and less spoilt by over-development (and less expensive). Gozo, the island that commited suicide!”

This view of Gozo was expressed recently by a foreign visitor, it is a view which is becoming all too prevalent amongst the visitors to our island. They complain about the construction which is taking place everywhere they go, about the noise, heavy traffic and pollution which invariably accompanies such construction works, and also about the hunting and trapping which prevents them from properly enjoying what is left of our dwindling countryside.

A common thread amongst regular visitors to Gozo is to point out the dramatic changes they have seen taking place in recent years. The majority say that they first fell in love with Gozo due to it’s peace, tranquility and laid back pace of life. They now say that all such reasons for them coming to Gozo have either gone or are rapidly disappearing.

These regular visitors were the best form of advertising for Gozo, but now it would seem they are becoming the worst form of advertising, by passing on their now jaded view of our island to their family and friends.

Gozo needs these visitors, the future of our children depends upon a viable and profitable tourist industry. We therefore need to change their jaded view, by putting right the harm that has already been done and preventing further damage to our dwindling environmental resources.

The planned developments at Hondoq ir-Rummien, Ramla l-Hamra and Ta’ Cenc, amongst others, are hardly the right way to go about achieving this, nor will they rectify our already badly tarnished image.