The Gozo Regional Development Strategy (RDS) is based on Gozo Regional Development Act XVIII of 2019 CAP 600, whereby culture and heritage are mentioned among the social factors to be assessed in preparing the Regional Impact Study.
The Strategy published emphasises the importance of preserving Gozo’s identity through protection and promotion of its cultural heritage, as it acknowledges the deep relationship between culture, traditions, built heritage and identity.
The action envisaged aims at re-valuing the Gozitan identity, characterised by cultural expressions visible in heritage sites, museums, local theatres, and traditional community structures like band clubs and religious groups. Such cultural richness is considered an asset for attracting tourism.
The valorisation strategy is designed to include digitalisation activities in order to increase digital and physical accessibility and to foster preservation of cultural heritage. Specific measures entail the creation of an inventory for intangible cultural heritage.
The forecasted actions for heritage preservation are expected to foster community engagement and social interaction by increasing cultural activities. In fact, the strategy foresees organising exhibitions with local and international artists in villages in order to invigorate these spaces.
In the regional development strategy, cultural heritage is also considered as a valuable leveraging factor for sustainable and economic development, as the investments in cultural heritage are expected to increase the wellbeing of tourists as well as of residents in the Island.
The strategy also aims at fostering regional independence and, concerning cultural heritage, to allow for a local cultural governance built on the Gozitan identity.
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