Businesses in Gozo reported a bumper holiday season as more people than usual crossed over for Christmas and the New Year.
Joseph Muscat, head of the Gozo Tourism Association, said bars, restaurants, hotels and private accommodation had all experienced a busy period, bolstered by an influx of both domestic and foreign tourism.
“This was even evident in the long queues at the Ċirkewwa ferry terminal,” he said. “There seems to have been an increase on previous years, probably helped by the fact that Christmas and New Year’s Day fell on a Tuesday, encouraging people to visit for a long weekend, apart from the good weather,” Mr Muscat added.
Gozo Business Chamber president Joseph Grech said that after a relatively slow start, business had been boosted by a campaign organised by the Gozo Ministry and other stakeholders.
“The fact that Gozo was advertised as the place to be during Christmas and the start of the New Year helped in attracting a large number of people from Malta and abroad, bringing their custom to the island and increasing business over this period,” he said.
The higher numbers, he noted, highlighted the fact that Gozo Channel was operating at saturation point and that…
