The Minister for Gozo Clint Camilleri announced the implementation of another measure of the 2023 Budget through the launch of the Extended-Stay Incentive Scheme for the Accommodation Sector in Gozo 2023-24.
The aim of this scheme is to continue to attract quality tourists to Gozo throughout the year. This scheme is eligible for tourists who will be on holiday in Gozo between 15 October 2023 and 15 March 2024, where the duration of the holiday must be at least 10 nights, and they will stay in one of the properties participating in this scheme. These tourists will be given a 30% discount from the booking up to a maximum of €300. The co-financing for this incentive will be 80% from the government and 20% from the private sector.
“Through this scheme we will continue to build on what we have already done so that Gozo is not just a summer destination. Therefore we are directly affecting the autumn and winter months, when the tendency is for foreign tourism to decrease a little after the summer months,” repeated Minister Camilleri.
He went on to explain that in recent years, during the pandemic period, Gozo has experienced substantial increases in the so-called shoulder periods. This is an effort the continuous work of the government and the stakeholders in order to continue to strengthen the touristic potential of the island of Gozdija throughout the year. The private operator will also be offering an additional 10% voucher to those who have booked to encourage the return of the same tourists in the summer months.
Here the Minister Clint Camilleri mentioned that the island of Gozo has always had strong statistics in those who are repeat visitors, with recent years even exceeding 50%. Minister Camilleri thanked the Tourism Association for Gozo which triggered this initiative, as well as the Directorate for Tourism and Economic Development within the Ministry for Gozo which worked to design the scheme, the guidelines, the terms and conditions, the expression of interest for accommodation operators and the pertinent digital platforms from the Ministry for Gozo.
The Director for Tourism and Economic Development, Ronald Sultana, mentioned that in collaboration with the international offices of the Malta Tourism Authority, promotion campaigns were designed abroad.
Minister Clint Camilleri concluded by saying that the parameters of the scheme are testimony to the commitment of the Ministry for Gozo and of the Gozitan stakeholders that while tourists increase in the months that are usually quieter than those of summer, the scheme is also aimed at tourists of a certain quality who visit Gozo for a longer holiday than normal. He reiterated that these are concepts synonymous with sustainable tourism.
15 operators are participating in this scheme as they responded to the call for expression of interest issued by the Gozitan Tourism Association, with more than 140 eligible properties that tourists will be able to choose from. The properties vary from 4 and 5 star hotels, boutique hotels, self-catering villas and farmhouses.
For more information visit https://www.visitgozo.com/extended-gozo-stays/.
Photo (MGOZ)
