Frequent-traveller incentives on Gozo ferry

Gozo Channel chairman Maurice Zarb Adami yesterday announced a range of frequent-traveller incentives that will save customers up to 55 per cent of the standard fare.

Speaking at a joint press conference with IT and Investments Minister Austin Gatt, Mr Zarb Adami said the aim of the schemes was to encourage more people to travel to Gozo more often without suffering financially.

Under the schemes, savings on the standard fare for both foot passengers and drivers increase with frequency of use. For example, a driver who purchases 52 tickets, which must be used within a 12-month period, will pay just Lm3 for each trip, while a foot passenger will pay 90c. At the other end of the scale, drivers who purchase five tickets, which must be used within six weeks, will pay Lm6, and passengers pay Lm1.80.

The schemes complement the fare increases announced by Dr Gatt last month. The standard passenger fare will rise to Lm2 (an increase of 25c), while a driver will pay Lm6.25 (+50c) in June, Lm6.50 in 2005 and Lm6.75 in 2006. Fares for senior citizens and Gozitans have also been raised.

Both the fare rises and the incentive schemes take effect from June 1. To take advantage of the schemes, customers must first obtain an application form from one of Gozo Channel's offices. The blocks of tickets must be registered against a particular vehicle or one person in which case a photo must be supplied.

Mr Zarb Adami also unveiled a group ticket scheme for night visits to Gozo. A driver and three passengers would pay a total of Lm4 while four foot passengers pay Lm3. However, there are some restrictions on when they can travel, especially in summer.

Addressing recent criticism of the fare rises, Dr Gatt said that few people had realised that the government was subsidising Gozo Channel for the very first time in the case of reduced fares for Gozitans. He also said the cost of the terminals and the ferries had not been factored into ticket prices.

"Gozo Channel has saved between Lm500,000 - Lm600,000 in costs this year. We took a long time to do it because we first wanted to see what cuts we could make before restructuring," he said.

Dr Gatt referred to accusations by Gozitan associations that they had not been consulted. He insisted he had read a report commissioned by the Gozo Business Chamber and the Gozo Tourism Association on the effects of fare rises on the Gozitan economy but did not agree with certain conclusions. "Instead of conducting empirical studies, the proof of the pudding is in the eating."

He said it would have been "very difficult" to carry out a study to assess the effectiveness of the new initiatives but he added that they would be adjusted accordingly and a review would be conducted in September or October.

He said that representatives from Gozitan associations had met ministry representatives earlier this week and a forum would be set up to meet regularly to discuss the service and incentives. This forum would include himself and the Gozo minister and it would recommend three initiatives a year.

"Meanwhile, 10 per cent of the profit made by Gozo Channel will go back into the incentive schemes. The company has a duty towards Gozo. And if it does well, Gozo does well," Dr Gatt said.