Very good weekend for Gozo’s tourism industry

Jun 30 2021

Gozo Tourism Association CEO Joe Muscat informed The Malta Independent that Gozo’s tourism industry experienced a ‘very good’ long weekend. Following the heavy and negative impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the EU Member states, Malta’s tourism industry suffered the hardest blow when compared to the previous year with an 80%. This information was revealed through a Eurostat statistic, with data also showing that overall European tourism plummeted to 61% due to COVID-19.

With many taking a day leave to enjoy a long weekend, many made their way to Gozo to enjoy their free time. Muscat added that ‘we can only hope that Gozo will continue having busy weekends like this one as the island’s tourism sector really needs it.’ Many people are still weary of travelling abroad and so opt to travelling to Gozo, essentially boosting the sister island’s tourist economy.

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Photo Source: Oliver’s Travels

Punishment slashed for former drug addict turned role model

Jun 30 2021

Walter Desira, 44, had his imprisonment sentence slashed after turning his life around and away from his drug addiction. A father of two, Desira reached out for help from Caritas and turned his life around. In 2017, he was declared guilty of cultivating cannabis and possession of resin, condemned to a 20 month jail sentence along with a €3,000 fine.

Assessed regularly by a review board and cooperating fully during rehabilitation, Desira was viewed as a role model by other victims through the ‘giving back’ programme. Desira also worked to make his job a success along with making up for lost family time. Following the evidence of rehabilitation, the sentence was lowered to a six-month term suspended for two years, with the fine slashed to €600.

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Photo Source: Kamra tal-Periti

A Future Proof Malta – Economy Minister Silvio Schembri leads public consultation on 10 year economic vision

Future Proof: Economy Minister Silvio Schembri launches public consultation on 10-year economic vision for Malta

Jun 30 2021

During a conference held in Gozo today by the Ministry for Economy and Industry together with Mimcol, Economy Minister Hon. Silvio Schembri continued with the national public consultation on the government’s 10-year Economic vision for Malta titled Future Proof Malta 2021-2031. Today’s public consultation session being held in Gozo is tackling pillar 4 of the economic vision document – The Environment.

Minister Schembri explained the need for this 10 year economic vision and the reasoning behind it.

Despite still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic like many other countries, Malta must look to the future with regards to its economic framework and continue to thrive for its identity as “A nation of courage, compassion and achievement”.

Economy Minister Silvio Schembri welcomed his colleagues Minister for Gozo Hon. Clint Camilleri and Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning Hon. Aaron Farrugia who discussed further the Environment theme.

“This is a government that listens and puts everything into balance.”

Economy Minister Hon. Silvio Schembri

The five pillars being discussed in the entire economic vision consultation programme are quality of life and sustainable economic development, high quality infrastructure and investment, education and employment, environment, and good governance and the rule of law.

The Minister urged stakeholders and the general public to contribute to this public consultation, by reading the consultation document and giving feedback on economicvision.mimcol.com.mt by the end of July 2021.

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WATCH: Smoke over Ramla Bay and huge fire in Nadur fields during Mnarja

Jun 30 2021

Footage surfaced of two separate incidents involving spreading fire and smoke in Gozo over the long weekend. The first shows a huge fire in Nadur fields spreading as the village celebrates the traditional feast of Mnarja. Villagers looked on to a scene combining fireworks and a burning valley, with only one fire engine arriving on scene to put out the flames.

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Another shows Gozo’s famous Ramla Bay receiving plumes of smoke following a quickly spreading grass fire on Tuesday afternoon. Starting at around 2pm on a Public Holiday, the blaze spread quickly as the breeze fanned the flames. Firefighters fought the flames until around 3.30pm, with the origin of the flame still unknown.

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Photo Source: maartenbrondijk