Keeping Gozo’s economy energised

From the number of visitors, Easter in Gozo was another success this year and I am very pleased with the figures presented to me by Gozo Channel in terms of the number of visitors that Gozo saw for this festive week.

In fact, compared to last year there was a 10.6 per cent increase in the number of people crossing over to Gozo for the Easter weekend – and an increase of 29.7 per cent compared to 2013.

This shows that this administration’s incessant work in organising activities that will attract a variety of visitors to Gozo all year round are bearing fruit. One example of this is that, each year, the number of religious activities being organised by the different localities in Gozo continues to grow and thus increases the attraction of Gozo over Easter. This has a multiplier effect on many sectors of Gozo’s economy, not only hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues but also cultural events such as exhibitions illustrating local talent and religious events – where volunteer work cannot go unmentioned.

However, Easter week is not the only time in the year that we see an increase in economic activity in Gozo. The cultural calendar that my Ministry works to develop over the whole year does have positive results – encouraging the many people involved in its organisation to continue improving year after year. Several activities were organised for the week- end after Easter, and Saturday in particular was packed with events. Gozo Channel figures showed a three per cent in- crease in passengers compared to the same weekend in April last year and a significant 28.6 per cent increase when compared to April 2014.

One of the new entries in this cultural calendar is the international fireworks festival. This was the second year that Gozo has been included in this festival; in fact this year, Gozo launched the festival, which was very well-received, and went a step further by and also organising other activities during the event. As it was last year, the festival was spectacular and enjoyed by a large number of visitors. It was held on Saturday evening in the Xagħra area, where the fireworks lit up the Xagħra valley.

The Saturday morning saw a first in our calendar, with the Science in the City being organised at the Cittadella. It was the perfect setting for linking historical treasure with modern scientific discoveries. The events organised were very popular and a significant number of people, and particularly families, had the pleasure of not only seeing the possibilities that science offers in everyday life but also the promises it holds for the future.

Such events are very much in line with the government’s educational policy of encouraging more young people to become interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. Innovation and creativity were presented in different environments, ensuring that the grey matter of all ages was working overtime – and outside the traditional philosophical settings. Preparing for an unknown future means acquiring all the skills in order to be flexible when it comes to meeting and dealing with whatever lies ahead. Science is a way of being prepared for a number of eventualities and to make our life easier to manage. Furthermore, the EcoGozo Department is giving its support so that this scientific experience is extended through a visit to Esplora. The aim is to hold the Science in the City event on an annual basis.

Complementing these events are art and photographic exhibitions, musicals, flower shows and many other cultural activities. Gozo is vibrant with such events which sustain a growing and energetic economy and provides something for everyone.

I sincerely thank all the people who work tirelessly to ensure that a good programme reaches everyone and that Gozo remains the place to visit to relive history, enjoy culture and gain new knowledge. This administration continues to provide Gozo with the opportunities to ensure that its economy develops and grows, offering jobs for everyone and giving businesses the milieu in which to flourish. It is thus heartening to have new offices opening up in Gozo, the latest being Keen Ltd, a digital marketing agency, aiming to continue to grow and create more jobs.

It is with pleasure that – together with colleagues Evarist Bartolo and Justyne Caruana – I visited the MaltaPost Document Management Centre, where 43 people with disabilities are working: scanning, digitising and converting documents into electronic format. I feel that this administration has shown it is an inclusive society. This endeavour was possible with the collaboration of JobsPlus and the Lino Spiteri Foundation, who joined forces and gave training to these new workers. Private companies and government entities have also given their support to this initiative by providing their documentation for processing, thus saving on office space in the process. Such an initiative clearly defines that when we work together, everyone gains.