Gozo’s ongoing success

trend is the fruit of the diligent and continuous efforts of the Labour Government to address this issue with determination and foresight.

A clear vision and long-term solutions have proved to be successful in this regard. After all, positive employment statistics are key indicators that the economy of a country is on the right track, particularly because – in our case – it stems from the fact that more people are joining the workforce willingly and enthusiastically. This is all thanks to the numerous incentives to businesses, families and – most importantly – to women and people who have never been part of the workforce or, due to disability, could not be productive members of society.

Unemployment in Gozo has fallen by 8.7 per cent compared to August 2018. This does not, however, mean that we have reached our optimum. Initiatives and incentives implemented by the Government over the last seven years are having a positive impact. An initiative to businesses introduced this year is the Gozo Employment Scheme, through which 80 new jobs have been created in the private sector. Economic activity has increased to such an extent that we are now being faced with a shortage of workers.

This means that we are now at the point where our focus is on attracting more people to seek employment in Gozo. This is why we launched the Gozo Employment Scheme, with the intention of offering more highquality and financially stable jobs that will ensure improved working conditions and more people joining the workforce.

Young and old

My dream as Minister for Gozo is to create quality jobs in Gozo for the thousands of Gozitans that have to travel every day to the mainland to earn a living. Enticing our young people to come back to Gozo to live and work, apart from easing the daily burden of travelling and the waste of precious time away from loved ones, would ensure that the quality of life of the people is enriched and enhanced.

We need young blood, fresh ideas and innovative solutions in order to flourish and our young people are more than capable of providing these. By living on Gozo permanently, they would eradicate the brain drain that has gripped the island for decades and generate enough manpower to keep the Progress is measured in the feel-good factor among all sectors of society across both islands. Gozo has fast become a main protagonist in the national scenario. The latest statistical figures for Gozo indicate encouraging economic growth, particularly in the tourism industry. This summer, Gozo Channel (Operations) Ltd ferried one million, eight hundred and seventy two thousand (1,872,000) passengers and five hundred and fifty thousand (550,000) vehicles. In all, 8,386 ferry trips were operated over the months of June, July and August.

The impact that the fourth ferry has had on our domestic economy is tangible and encouraging. The Gozo Ministry’s efforts to promote Gozo as a unique and distinct destination have also proved to be successful. Our calendar of cultural events and activities spread throughout the year, and the promotion of our island as a distinct and unique destination, have helped no end. Today, we can boast that Gozo’s seasonality has been virtually eradicated. Repeat visitors and an increase in firsttime travellers have made our island well and truly come alive. Proof of this change is the encouraging, positive and complimentary feedback that my Ministry has received from the Gozo Tourism Association.

‘Together we stand, divided we fall’ is a motto that is close to my heart. Gozo’s current successes and determination to excel, to grow and to flourish stems from the joint effort of our erstwhile and resilient Gozitan entrepreneurs, NGOs, government entities and foreign investors. They continue to support and collaborate with the Gozo Ministry with an enthusiasm that is unparalleled. Gozo is rapidly living