The business sentiment in Gozo is good according to the island’s leading entrepreneurs.

This emerged today during a visit made by Gozo Minister Anton Refalo and other ministry officials to a string of outlets in Victoria and a number of farmhouses, and a hotel.

Antoine Portelli, the CEO of Arcadia Shopping Centre in Victoria said that although business sentiment is good, there needed a final push to attract tourists during the shoulder months. The centre hosts a number of fashion outlets and catering establishments.

He said that the reduced Gozo crossing fees is a good step in the right direction and the island needed similar initiatives for a way forward. Mr Portelli also said that the business sentiment hasn’t been so good as much as this year, in as long as eight years.

The minister, who was warmly welcomed by a number of entrepreneurs and shoppers, posed the same question to shop owners and other businessmen, mainly asking them if sales improved. The minister was met with a positive reply, but most said that one needed to work hard to compete, especially those involved in the farmhouse sector since farmhouses are mushrooming across the island.

Mario Loporto, the owner of farmhouses, said that the numbers are good but as always, in each and every sector, one needs to keep working hard to continue garnering results.

Gozo Tourism Association CEO Joe Muscat, who accompanied the minister along with Gozo Business Chamber president Michael Grech, said that Gozo is aiming to reach one million bed nights this year.

Mr Muscat said that Gozo has been noting increases in tourist arrivals, since 2010. He said that January had registered positive results in terms of tourist arrivals, a month normally considered to be a low season.

Minister Refalo visited the Arcadia shopping centre, Duke's shopping mall, two outlets in Marsalforn, including a sweet shop amalgamated with a coffee shop, and a restaurant, apart from a number of farmhouses, and Ta Cenc Hotel. The minister said that the Marsalforn parking has been cleared of cars so that restaurants can bring out their chairs and tables overlooking the sea. This has reduced vehicle emissions, which normally choked patrons dining in the line of restaurants available in Marsalforn.

Earlier

Gozo minister expresses disgust over vandalism acts

Gozo Minister Anton Refalo earlier in the day expressed his disgust over vandal acts which took place on the island of Gozo, mainly referring to the Rabat bus terminus which was vandalized as soon as it was modernised, calling on the need to instill civic sense among Gozitans.

Dr Refalo was speaking during a visit to sites being restored by Wirt Ghawdex, including Dar il Gvernatur in Victoria. He said the Marsalforn valley has also become a target of vandals after it was cleaned up.

“I cannot understand why people dump their rubbish in a valley when there exists the bulky refuse service,” he said.

During his visit to Dar il Gvernatur, Dr Refalo was shown a restored statue of Our Lady which is to be placed in the Tar Rummiena niche, limits of Xewkija.

It is understood the governor used the building to change his clothes prior to entering the city of Victoria.

Dr Refalo also visited the niche. He said that if it weren’t for the team of Wirt Ghawdex, an NGO, such restoration works would have never been made possible.

Later on he visited the newly restored St George statue which is placed on the top of the home of the Montanaro Gaucis, opposite the Ta Pompei church. The statue was formerly known as San Gorg tal Hagar. The minister explained that our ancestors had decided to move the statute after the niche which hosted it was far too big for it. He pointed out that the statue is the same one which features in a Caruana Dingli painting.

 

Ministry ‘stepping up Gozo’s presence online’

Esther Bajada, the director of the Tourism And Economic Development unit within the ministry, told this newsroom that the ministry was in the middle of stepping up efforts to increase Gozo’s presence online.

She said that the ministry had entered an agreement with Trip Advisor which has led to the Gozo tourism website registering an increase in visits.

“The latest phenomena is online bookings and this is why we are making attempts to improve our presence online,” she said.

 

Minister says Gozo is to receive record foreign tourists

During his visit to Hotel Ta Cenc, Dr Refalo said that Gozo is to receive a record foreign tourists.

He expressed his satisfaction over the fact that Gozo’s aspirations have started to be met.

He said that during the Santa Marija weekend alone, 70,000 passengers crossed over to Gozo, a three per cent increase over 2013.