New Gozo Hyperbaric Unit welcomed by the Gozo Tourism Association

The Gozo Tourism Association has welcomed the installation of a new Gozo Hyperbaric Unit at the Gozo General Hospital on Thursday, saying that ”Gozo’s tourism product has been further strengthened with this new addition.”

The GTA explained that the six-person facility will improve emergency response for diving incidents, positioning Gozo more competitively for overseas diving enthusiasts, and broaden access to hyperbaric oxygen therapy for Gozo General hospital patients.

The unit was financed from the eco-contribution fund and delivered through collaboration between the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, the Ministry for Health and Active Ageing, the Ministry for Gozo and Planning, and with the support of the Malta Tourism Authority.

The Gozo Tourism Association (GTA) expressed its satisfaction that its lobbying for ”ring-fencing eco-contributions collected in Gozo has directly contributed to this facility.” GTA added that it is confident that ”this unit enhances visitor safety and strengthens Gozo’s reputation as a well-equipped diving destination.”

Before the inauguration, the aforementioned Ministers and officials visited ix-Xatt l-Ahmar dive site and met local divers to discuss the hyperbaric unit, wreck conservation, and other diving-product matters.

Present at the inauguration were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Dr. Ian Borg, Minister for Health and Active Ageing Jo Etienne Abela, and Minister for Gozo and Planning Clint Camilleri, together with MTA Chairman Dr. Charles Mangion, MTA CEO Carlo Micallef, CEO of the Gozo General Hospital Ms. Carmen Ogilvie- Galea, GTA Chairman Paul Scicluna, GTA Secretary Mark Busuttil, GTA CEO Joe Muscat and GTA Treasurer Konrad Scicluna as well as officials from PDSA.

The GTA expressed its thanks the Ministries involved, the Malta Tourism Authority, and the Gozo General Hospital Management and the team led by Dr. Lyubisa Matity, who operates the Gozo Hyperbaric Unit.