Gozo's Tourism Sector Reports Strong Summer 2025 Growth, Driven by International Visitors

Gozo Tourism Sector Experiences Significant Growth in Summer 2025

Gozo's tourism sector recorded a strong performance during the summer months of 2025, with a recent survey by the Gozo Tourism Association (GTA) indicating notable growth, primarily fueled by international visitors. The survey, which gathered insights from a broad spectrum of tourism operators, highlighted an overall positive trend despite ongoing challenges within the industry.

International Visitors Propel Robust Performance

The GTA's findings show that nearly half, specifically 48%, of tourism businesses experienced an improvement in their overall performance between July and September 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Another 33.8% reported stable business performance, while 18.2% noted a decline.

International visitors played a crucial role in this growth. A significant 65.4% of businesses acknowledged a positive impact from foreign tourists, with 48.7% of operators reporting improved performance in the foreign market compared to the previous year. This underscores the increasing reliance on international arrivals during Gozo's peak season.

The positive trend also translated into financial gains for many, with 67.9% of businesses rating their summer revenue as 'Good' or 'Excellent'. Specifically, 48.7% reported higher revenue than in Summer 2024, attributing this primarily to price increases (55.5%) and a growth in clientele (51%).

Stable Domestic Market and Operational Insights

In contrast to the dynamic international market, the domestic tourism sector in Gozo demonstrated stability. The survey revealed that 57% of businesses experienced no significant impact from Maltese tourists, while 30% reported a positive effect. Year-on-year comparisons showed little variation, with 64% of operators reporting similar domestic performance to 2024.

Operationally, most businesses maintained steady performance, with 59.5% reporting no significant changes compared to 2024. Furthermore, 38% noted improvements in their operations, indicating adaptability within the sector.

Persistent Challenges and Quality Tourism Concerns

Despite the positive indicators, the Gozo tourism sector continues to grapple with several challenges. The most pressing issues identified by respondents were rising operating costs, cited by 63.3% of businesses, and staff shortages, reported by 53% of operators. Other concerns included increased competition (29%), administrative bureaucracy (26.6%), and issues related to the Skills Pass (20.3%). Only 9% of businesses stated they faced no major challenges during the summer.

A critical self-assessment from the industry also emerged, with a substantial 74% of respondents believing that Gozo is not currently attracting 'high-quality tourists'. Additionally, 63% felt that the island is not yet providing a sufficiently strong 'quality tourism product', highlighting a perceived gap between current offerings and the potential for higher-value tourism.