Honorary & Past Chairpersons

Paul Scicluna has been a Council Member of the Gozo Tourism Association since its inception way back in February 1999.

He served on the Executive Council as a treasurer during the first eight years and Chairman for the last sixteen years. Paul has extensive experience in the tourism industry and managed for forty years one of the leading local companies in the self-catering business. We can say that Paul’s company was one of the first to see the potential in renovating the traditional old houses which locally are known as the converted Farmhouses. Paul represents the Self-Catering Establishments on the council and over the years has been very active in promoting and safeguarding the interests of the tourism sector in general and the interests of all members. Paul represents the GTA on the board of the Gozo Action Group Foundation and on the Gozo Regional Committee of MCESD.

In the late 1960’s Victor J Borg had the foresight, vision and belief that Gozo can be a tourist destination. From a modest beginning of a car hire business, Victor with sheer courage, ventured into the Hotels sector when in 1970 he was already involved in the Cornocopia Hotel in Xaghra. A firm believer in Gozo as a distinct destination in the 1990’s Victor Borg continued investing in the hotels sector through the building of the St.Patricks Hotel and the purchase of Ta’ Cenc Hotel, together with his partner Mr. Saviour Cremona. These hotels together other investments in the tourism industry on Gozo created countless job opportunities to all Gozitans.

Hundreds of Gozitans are grateful for Mr. Victor J Borg for offering them work and career opportunities in his several touristic businesses. The contribution of this stalwart in the Gozitan tourism industry will never be forgotten by all of those who have tourism on Gozo at heart.

Mr. Victor Borg was also involved in bringing together the Gozitan establishment under the umbrella of the Gozo Tourism Association. Apart from being a Council member of the Gozo Tourism Association for a number of year, Mr. Victor J. Borg was also Chairman of the Gozo Tourism Association for two years between 2006 and 2007.

Mr. Victor J Borg, who as also Honorary President of the Gozo Tourism Association passed away on Saturday 26th September, 2020.

Over 50 years in the Tourism Industry starting this long career in the management in Hotels at the age of twenty and moving to being a Director with Fortel Group, owners of the Fortina Hotel and another three Sliema Hotels. Was an important part of the famous Captain Morgan Group.

Mario moved to Gozo as Consultant with the Ta Frenc Group setting up Gozo Village Holidays who are a forerunner in Gozo Tourism. He is very proud in introducing many big Tour Operators to Gozo.

Mario had been involved in all aspects of Tourism.

With all these experiences and success gained Mario is always ready to help others and has kept himself involved in this business for all these years. He loves everything about Tourism, has always been committed to Tourism and enjoys sharing his experiences with others.

Mario joined the Gozo Tourism Association in its early years, has been it’s chairman for two years and vice chairman up to this day for consecutive years.

When younger Mario was dedicated to the game of football and was lucky to have played at top level football. Having the honor to have played against great European teams when he was part of the Malta National team.

Way back in the early 1960’s Chev John Portelli had the foresight and belief that Gozo can be a tourist destination. His sheer courage coupled with determination were the ingredients in his development of the first modern Hotel on Gozo way back in 1968, when Hotel Calypso was officially opened by the then Prince Charles Prince of Wales and later King Charles of the United Kingdom. This hotel together with his many other investments in the tourism industry on Gozo created countless job opportunities to all Gozitans.

Today thousands of Gozitans in their silence are thanking Chev. John Portelli for offering them work and career opportunities in his several touristic businesses.
The contribution of this stalwart in the Gozitan tourism industry will never be forgotten by all of those who have tourism on Gozo at heart. Chev. John Portelli’s achievements in the touristic sector were recognised by the Gozo Tourism Association by conferring to him the “Lifelong Achievement Award in Tourism” during the Gozo Tourism Awards 2016 event.

Chev John Portelli will not only be remembered as the pioneer in Gozo Tourism, but most of all for his altruistic and generous personality.
Chev John Portelli, who was also Honorary President of the Gozo Tourism Association passed away on 5th July, 2018 at the venerable age of 93 years.

Victor J. Borg served on the National Tourism organisation Board, and the board of the Malta Tourism Authority. He also served as a director of the Gozo Channel Company when the decision to commission new vessels was taken, and the Malta Air Charter Company. Throughout his lifetime he was a strong advocate for improved multi-modal connectivity between the islands, and for the higher-end tourism for Gozo. Victor also sat on the councils of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association and the Gozo Tourism Association, which he also served as Chairman and, later, Honorary President. He loved qualifying himself as a Gozitan who invested in Gozo, not because it was always the most profitable of his options, but because he loved the island. Victor always encouraged young people from Gozo to take the initiative and keep Gozo in mind when choosing a career.

Victor J. Borg was awarded Ġieħ Għawdex in 2010 and the National Order of Merit in 2012. The Gozo Tourism Association bestowed him with the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. He passed away in September 2020, days after his 75th birthday, survived by his wife Miriam, his children Monica, Elayne and Victor John.