Gozo Channel Operations ltd will be reintroducing the fourth ferry by the end of June, Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri said on Monday evening in Parliament.

The fourth ferry had been temporarily removed from service last April due to a drop in traffic in relation to COVID-19 restrictions.

The Gozo ferry service continues to be run at half-capacity however authorities are no longer taking passenger temperature checks before boarding.

Minister Camilleri said this was part of a Government strategy to boost internal tourism, adding that traffic had picked up on the sister island.

On Monday, the Tourism Minister also issued a statement to say hotels and restaurants in Gozo had seen a busy weekend, with hotels reporting 90 per cent occupancy in some cases.

Tourism Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli and Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri visited a number of businesses and establishments on Monday.