Constraints of the Gozo tourism industry

On behalf of the Gozo Tourism Association, I refer to the editorial of The Times entitled The Pros And Cons Of An Airstrip In Gozo (February 16) in which the editor repeatedly implied that there is no necessity for an air link between the island of Gozo and mainland Malta.

The Gozo Tourism Association would like to remind the editor that the government is forking out millions of euros to lure the low-cost airlines to operate several routes not serviced by the legacy carriers, in order to make Malta more accessible to potential tourists. Thus the government is acknowledging the fact that the success of the tourism industry depends also on further accessibility to the Maltese islands.

With the same reasoning, the association is asking what is being done to create more access to the sister island of Gozo. The GTA has always argued that for Gozo the low-cost carriers are a double- edged sword. It is an acknowledged fact that the low-cost carriers have improved the tourist numbers but it is also a known fact that Gozo is losing out on the domestic market which is opting for breaks to destinations serviced by these airlines. Furthermore, contrary to what is being done towards access in Malta, the island of Gozo experienced inconsistent, unfeasible and unreliable air links previously operated by the helicopter and the present seaplane.

Furthermore, the Gozo Tourism Association is conscious of and recognises the strength of the island's unique character. However, it believes that the right balance is to be struck between maintaining Gozo's characteristics and sustaining the tourism industry which is the main economic pillar on Gozo.

The GTA is not the environmental expert. We are neither aviation experts. But we can proudly say that we are professionals and knowledgeable on what needs to be done to sustain the tourism sector on Gozo.

We are seasoned, experienced and tested daily and therefore our opinion should be heeded, if we want Gozo to remain a tourist destination. Up to this present date, the Gozitan tourism trade has been let down with regard to the air link between Malta and Gozo. No editorial board, whatever its agenda, will ever understand the constraints of the Gozitan tourism industry, unless one lives it on a daily basis.

Finally the association hopes that it was not the intention of The Times editorial to instigate a St John's Co-Cathedral repeat.