ERDF 031: Upgrading of Zewwieqa Waterfront

The project aimed at rehabilitating the Zewwieqa Waterfront into a vibrant mixed-use leisure, recreation, and tourist locale which provides an agreeable setting for boating enthusiasts, the yachting community, tourists, walkers, sightseers… etc. This was achieved through specific interventions aimed at upgrading the Waterfront’s infrastructure to effectively contribute to the social and economic aspects of present day Gozo.

To upgrade this gateway to Gozo with a view to enhance its economic and social potential for the benefit of locals and tourists alike.

The proposed project will lead to the upgrading of the ambience of the Zewwieqa Waterfront in particular and to Mgarr Harbour in general for the benefit of Gozitan, local and foreign tourists frequenting / visiting the site and for the benefit of those private individuals and/or enterprises who earn a living through tourism related economic activities or in the provision of services to users of the port facilities. Consequently, as a result of the implementation of the project: 1. The number of visiting yachts to the Zewwieqa Waterfront will increase by 27 yachts per annum as from project completion.(This increase in the number of yachts was arrived at after projecting the annual increase in the number of visiting yachts following Zewwieqa’s first face lift. This involved minimum intervention mainly road surfacing to improve accessibility to the site. This implies that once the project is completed the area will become much more attractive and the number of yachts visiting this port will increase). 2. It is estimated that the average satisfaction rate of tourism operators in the area is expected to increase from 20% (current rate) to 70%. (Please be informed that a telephone survey was carried out by the Ministry for Gozo (MGOZ) on the the 29th October 2010 among the 11 economic operators in the Zewwieqa area for which 9 responded. The participants were interviewed and asked:- to rate their satisfaction with the existing infrastructure on a scale representing 1 to 100;- if they considered the surrounding infrastructure to be an important factor in attracting more people and business to the area;- to rate their expected satisfaction once the infrastructure is upgraded.The responses revealed that on average:- the satisfaction rate with the existing infrastructure is 20%;- all participants confirmed that the infrastructure is one of the main determinants in attracting more people and business to the area.the satisfaction rate following upgrade is expected to increase from 20% to 70%The forecasted increase in satisfaction rate of tourism operators will be measured by a survey among the tourism operators whereby the same questions asked during the telephone survey will be asked again. The average of the scores of the responses will show the level of satisfaction).

The upgrading of the Zewwieqa Waterfront, as part of the island’s maritime, cultural and tourism infrastructure will allow its enjoyment by locals and tourists and enable an effective contribution to tourism related economic activities.