Gozo’s tourism lobby has renewed calls for the development of a rural airfield on the island, framing the project as a cornerstone for its future competitiveness.

In its 2026 budget proposals, the Gozo Tourism Association (GTA) listed the airfield as a central measure to strengthen connectivity between Malta and Gozo, placing it alongside demands for upgraded ferry services and a digital ticketing system linking buses, museums and tours.

The push comes less than a year after the Planning Authority approved plans to extend a disused runway at Xewkija into a functional airstrip, despite opposition from residents and NGOs who criticised the lack of a full Environmental Impact Assessment. The government has argued the project fulfils an electoral pledge to boost Gozo’s links with the rest of the country.

While the GTA document does not go into technical detail, its inclusion of the airfield among top priorities makes clear that the industry sees it as vital to the island’s future. The association presented the airstrip as part of a broader strategy to ensure Gozo can attract new tourism niches and compete in an increasingly demanding international market.

The GTA’s proposals also covered a range of other measures. On connectivity, it called for an electrically propelled, wheelchair-accessible ferry to replace the Nikolaus and upgrades to the Mġarr and Ċirkewwa terminals. It also suggested studies into enlarging Mġarr harbour and exploring an alternative port.

In terms of the tourism product, the association urged government to ring-fence the eco-tax collected from Gozo accommodation so it can be reinvested in diving, climbing, kitesurfing and outdoor trails. It also pushed for a hyperbaric chamber at the Gozo General Hospital to support diving tourism, stricter curbs on summer construction near tourist areas, and more fiscal incentives for boutique hotels, artisan workshops and agri-tourism.

On human resources, the GTA proposed tax credits and grants tied to year-round employment, as well as language and culture courses for foreign workers. It also suggested bolstering the ITS Gozo campus as a specialist training hub.

But it was the airfield that stood out, both for its prominence in the GTA’s wishlist and for the political weight it already carries. The PA’s approval in 2024 was met with fierce criticism from environmental NGOs and from Xewkija’s mayor, who warned that residents had not been properly consulted. Supporters insist the project is essential for connectivity and can open new opportunities for investment and tourism.

By placing the airfield at the heart of its 2026 budget submission, the GTA has made clear it expects government not only to approve the project on paper but to deliver it as a functioning part of Gozo’s transport system.