LAUNCHING OF THE NEW OFFICIAL GOZO WEB SITE

The official Gozo Web Site was launched this morning at the Exhibition Hall, Ministry for Gozo. Present for the launching were associations, which included the Gozo Tourism Association and the Gozo Business Chamber.

The Web site: http://www.gozo.gov.mt is intended primarily as a link for Gozitans who, for various reasons, have decided to take up residence in Malta or migrate to foreign countries around the world. Until now the Ministry for Gozo had no means of direct contact with Gozitans living outside the island. However, now Gozitans and their descendants living outside Gozo, who visit the website, will help in a data collection exercise that will enable the Ministry for Gozo to create a profile and generate information on the Gozitan migrant. The system will help in strengthening ties and facilitating communication between Gozo and Gozitans living away from the island, and between Gozitans and their descendants living in Malta or abroad themselves.

The site contains general information on Gozo, the cultural calendar, details on works-in-progress, information about local NGO’s, press releases of the Ministry for Gozo, as well as links to other relevant websites. In the future, gozo.gov.mt will host additional Government services available in Gozo online.

Gozo.gov.mt will also facilitate visits to Gozo and help in the promotion of the commercial/professional and other interests of Gozitans living away from Gozo. It will also bring to their knowledge the organisation of the different cultural, social, political, and other activities held on the island.

Through this web site, the Ministry for Gozo will also collect information and/or feedback from tourists following their visit to the island, by means of a specific questionnaire published online, that will be evaluated by the Ministry to help it in planning its schemes, so as to attract more tourists to the island. This will also help the Ministry for Gozo to improve amenities according to feedback received. In fact another main objective of the site is the promotion of Gozo as a unique tourist destination. It provides an insight into the island’s way of life and its various attractions.

The information made available on the Web Site will be regularly updated in line with the Standards and Guidelines for Government Web Sites issued by the Central Information Management Unit (CIMU).

Present for the occasion were the Hon. Giovanna Debono, Minister for Gozo, Mr. Frank Psaila, Permanent Secretary - Ministry for Gozo, Mr. Charles Cilia, Accounts Manager MITTS, Mr. Ruben Portanier and Mr. Josef Vella, Project Manager CIMU.