Eco-contributions paid by tourists are funding a state-of-the-art €1.2 million Hyperbaric Unit in Gozo, to improve the safety of diving experiences on the islands, while facilitating the provision of several medical services to many other patients at the Gozo General Hospital.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Ian Borg, Minister for Health and Active Ageing, Jo Etienne Abela, and Minister for Gozo and Planning, Clint Camilleri, announced this investment during a visit to the Gozo General Hospital and a meeting with diving instructors at the Xatt l-Aħmar dive site, along with representatives of the Gozo Tourism Association and the Professional Diving Schools Association.
The new six-person hyperbaric unit will replace an existing one-person chamber at the Gozo General Hospital, which was no longer sufficient to meet the Island’s requirements, especially the growing demand from the diving tourism sector. The new chamber will increase capacity for several medical services, including emergency treatment of divers suffering from decompression sickness, and other therapies required by the hospital’s patients.
With a therapeutic range of up to 50 metres of seawater and mixed gas capability, the new chamber allows advanced recompression protocols to be delivered to several divers at the same time, while safely accommodating an attendant. This significantly strengthens the resilience of the Gozo Hospital’s emergency services.
Crucial investment for higher value diving tourism in Gozo – implementing the Malta Vision 2050
Deputy Prime Minister Borg explained that diving tourism is one of the value-added niches that the Government is actively supporting to implement the objectives of Malta Vision 2050, specifically macro measure 4, towards a more resilient, diversified all-year tourism offering with higher-value, authentic visitor experiences.
“With some 40 popular dive sites, Gozo has become a hub for technical and deep diving, attracting many divers from across the world. By investing tourism funds for this advanced hyperbaric chamber, we are supporting the development of diving tourism in Gozo. This project is also providing superior facilities for the safety of local professional divers and diving enthusiasts, while contributing to better health services for Gozo residents, reaffirming our commitment towards a tourism model that benefits local communities,” Dr Borg said.
Minister Jo Etienne Abela explained that this investment will not only support divers who visit the Maltese Islands but will also help patients who may need pressurised oxygen (hyperbaric oxygen) to speed up their recovery, for example in the treatment of wounds and certain infections.
“This is another promise fulfilled at the Gozo General Hospital. I am confident that many people will benefit from this project, and we remain committed to continue strengthening medical services for Gozitans in Gozo,” Dr Abela said.
Minister Clint Camilleri stated that “a new hyperbaric unit has been inaugurated in Gozo at the Gozo General Hospital, following an investment of €1.2 million. This will further strengthen Gozo as a diving destination, with the reassurance that in case of need it can provide treatment to six persons at once. This facility is indispensable to keep attracting more tourists for diving experiences in Gozo. It offers a peace of mind that will surely bring more divers to the island. I commend everyone involved in this initiative, which is coming to fruition today.”
The long-term lease of the new hyperbaric unit at the Gozo General Hospital is one of several projects funded through eco-contributions paid by tourists visiting Malta and Gozo. The fund is administered by the Tourism Projects Advisory Committee, which is composed of representatives of the Tourism Ministry, the Malta Tourism Authority and the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association. Among other projects funded through eco-contributions, there are several initiatives in tourism zones, including the ongoing regeneration of the Buġibba Square.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Christopher Cutajar, the Chief Executive Officer of the Malta Tourism Authority, Carlo Micallef, and other officials accompanied the three ministers during this event.
Photos (ODPM-MFT/MHA/MGP)
