The Hon. Mario de Marco, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, visits Wied iż-Żurrieq to see refurbishment works currently underway by the Malta Tourism Authority on the jetty and the surrounding area.Photo–DOI, Martin Attard

Embelishment works in wied iż-Żurrieq by the Malta Tourism Authority

During a visit to embellishment and improvement works in Wied iż-Żurrieq, the Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, the Hon. Dr Mario de Marco said that the Government and the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) are investing continually in the Maltese tourism product, as this is essential to offering value for money.

The Architect in charge of the project together with an official from the Directorate of Product Development at MTA, showed Dr de Marco around the works. Also present were the Mayor of Qrendi and other local Councillors, as the council is also offering some funds for the project; together with members from the Wied iż-Żurrieq Boating Association.

Dr de Marco stated that Wied iż-Żurrieq is popular with tourists mainly on two counts, namely the boat trips to the Blue Grotto and the excellent diving offered by the surrounding sea and the wreck ‘Um el Faroud’.

The Parliamentary Secretary added that the works had started now as the bad weather had not permitted otherwise. Total expenditure on this project is more than €90,000 of which €11,500 are being contributed by the Local Council. Weather permitting the structural part of the project should be finished by June, with the rest of the works being finished by July. An agreement was the reached with the Boating Association so that the works can take place, yet cause minimum inconvenience to the tourists and Maltese who would like to make use of the boats to visit the Blue Grotto.

The list of works includes:

• Resurfacing of the pier
• Removal and rebuilding of the stone benches along the pier
• Changing the present slipway into a more comfortable stairway
• Improvments to surface of the access ramp
• Hand rails, general improvement works and new lighting
• Improving of the stairway used by divers, making it less steep and installing hand rails
• Installation of a new ladder custom made for divers and other ladders for swimmers
• New buoys to demarcate more clearly the zones for swimmers and boats
• Restoration of the existing boat houses
• Installation of new stainless steel mooring bolts
• General cleaning of the rocky beach areas and overall embellishment, and
• Setting up of new informative signs