Qala will be the main host of the second edition of the Qala International Folk Festival next month as the local council in collaboration with the Menhir Qala Folk Group organises a four-day event that is expected to remain a fixture in the annual calendar of events. The festival is supported by the Ministry for Gozo, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry for Tourism and Culture.

The festival, which is being held between Thursday the 27th and Sunday the 30th of September, will include the participation of foreign groups from Bulgaria and the Czech Republic together with local groups and bands.

The Shumen Folk Song & Dance Ensemble (Bulgaria) and the Danaj Folk Ensemble (Czech Republic) will be joined by the Mnarja Folk Group, Ta' Ciangura San Lawrenz Folk Group and the Aurora Folk Group as well as the 'Ite ad Joseph' Qala philharmonic band, the Versatile Ensemble and Ta' Seguna Group with performances held in Qala, Mellie?a, St Julians and Victoria. An exhibition of locally hand-made crafts will also be set up on Sunday 30 at St Joseph Square in Qala.

Speaking during a press conference held to announce the upcoming festival, Minister for Gozo Giovanna Debono said that initiatives such as the one taken by the Qala Local Council should be supported as they contribute to both culture on the island of Gozo as well as providing an added tourism attraction. Gozitan folk groups and bands have an additional annual appointment to participate in while the tourism industry on Gozo also benefits through an added event on the island.

Minister Debono spoke about the link between events organised on the island and the direct impact on tourism in Gozo. She referred to other crowd-pulling events that were held on Gozo in recent months and said that the success such events managed to achieve prove that culture as a niche area is one to be further exploited to improve on Gozo's potential as a unique destination all year round.

Minister Debono said that Government believes in setting off and supporting initiatives that contribute to address the island's seasonality issue and it is for this reason that it set up the Gozo Attractions Incentive scheme earlier this year, reduced Gozitan accommodation and catering establishment's annual licence fee by 25% in last year's Budget, introduced new schemes through Gozo Channel Co Ltd and is now proposing further incentives and measures in this year's Pre-Budget Document "Families Growing Stronger".

The press conference was also addressed by Qala Mayor Paul Buttigieg who gave details about the programme of the events scheduled for this second edition of the Qala International Folk Festival and St Julians Mayor Peter Bonello.