Gozo experiences widespread power outages affecting tourism

Widespread power outages on the island of Gozo over the past weekend have caused significant disruption to local businesses and the tourism sector. The outages, caused by two separate faults in underground cables, left some areas without electricity for more than 24 hours.

Tourism operators in Marsalforn reported substantial financial losses, with some restaurants forced to cancel numerous bookings due to the lack of air conditioning and electricity. Business owners described the situation as “disastrous and embarrassing,” noting that the instability affects Malta’s international image.

Daniel Borg, CEO of the Gozo Business Chamber, emphasized the need for “bold decisions” and long-term planning to address infrastructure vulnerabilities. He noted that increasing development and the impacts of climate change are putting significant pressure on the current energy supply. While acknowledging the efforts of Enemalta employees to restore service, Borg stressed the necessity of strengthening the island's power resilience and rethinking the economic model to ensure sustainable growth.