One of the fastest growing branches of tourism is one that includes well-being services and welfare. With the launch of Well-being from Nature project, locals and travellers alike will explore and learn more about what the natural surroundings of Gozo and Comino can offer in terms of health and well-being.
Gozo is a perfect destination for therapeutic holidays and leisure, in one with nature. Therefore, this project seeks to merge the local landscape and environment with the quality of life and rural economy through sustainable tourism.
Through the implementation of the LEADER co-operation project Well-being from Nature, the Gozo Action Group Foundation (GAGF) will seek to promote and maintain the welfare by utilizing the surrounding nature and disseminate the knowledge on nature-based well-being.
The LEADER project aims to promote joint activities and projects as well as develop rural areas value by innovation for products and services. The scope is to develop a common strategy for the promotion and attraction of rural tourism at a trans-national level, which allows the exchange of skills, knowledge and practices. The project will bring together local stakeholders from Gozo, Inshowen, Ireland, and South Ostrobothnia, Finland.
Joint activities between these three countries include national and transnational benchmarking and exchange of actor activation and information; exploring the health effects of Green Care and wellness tourism; and dissemination by steering group meetings in participating countries. The Project Steering Committee is made up of members of Local Councils, NGO, business entities, and other representatives.
Aims of this project revolve around promoting Gozo through digital marketing to put focus on the rurality that the island offers, for both the local and international tourists. The project also seeks to address and mitigate the seasonality issue that Gozo faces annually by increasing tourists and the longevity of their stay on the island. These will tie in with accomplishment of the Local Development Strategy which will be creating tourism events and youth experiences as well as advancing technology that stirs new economy such as job creation and boost the food supply chain.
This project will run until June 2022 and interested parties may fill in the embed survey:
Well-being from Nature – Gozo Action Group Foundation – Information Gathering
Photo Credit – Paul Scicluna