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Gozo NGO Għawdix said that Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo’s promises on a management plan for Comino remained on hold, noting that sunbeds and rubbish continued to plague the island.
On July 13 and August 3, the NGO conducted inspections to assess progress since its first effort last year. While they noted some positive developments, significant problems remain, particularly in environmental management and enforcement.
Għawdix expressed concern about several long-standing issues. Despite positive progress, plastic waste remains a significant problem, particularly in the Blue Lake area. Lack of adequate enforcement is also a key issue.
Between 8:15 and 10:00 am on July 13, Għawdix reported that there was no presence at the Blue Lagoon from Transport Malta, the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), the Malta Tourism Authority or the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA). At around 10:00 am on August 3, only one Malta Tourism Authority official was seen. The NGO thanked the Malta Tourism Authority for its efforts but stressed that one official was not enough for effective management.
They believe that the island’s tourism industry still focuses on quantity over quality, and weak law enforcement is one of the reasons for the ongoing challenges.
Another concern is the use of coastal land (designated as a Natura 2000 area) for sunbeds, which has led to the destruction of local flora. They reported that on both days of their visit, sunbeds had been set up before 8:00 in the morning, in violation of the guidelines for protecting this ecologically sensitive area. The group reminded that the ERA published a Natura 2000 management plan for Comino eight years ago, which included recommendations for a tourism carrying capacity assessment that has not yet been implemented.
Despite a promise by Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo that a comprehensive plan would be in place by the summer of 2024, the NGO believes the promised “overall plan” is still missing. It has decreased by 65%. They argued that the facilities were simply moved to another part of the island where such activities were not supposed to take place. Evidence from the NGOs showed that the claim that sunbeds were placed only on the rocks to protect the bush was not respected as people still set up sunbeds in the early morning.
Għawdix praised many of the improvements, especially the increase in waste management infrastructure. They noted that the addition of more bins on the island was in line with their recommendations and was seen as a positive step in addressing the waste problem.
The NGO also praised the reduction in noise pollution, noting that most kiosks had stopped playing music, thus creating a more peaceful environment for tourists. In addition, the efforts of the island’s cleaners were recognized for their efforts to manage the waste generated.
The NGO stressed that despite previous clean-up efforts and ongoing dialogue with government agencies, including the removal of more than 210 garbage bags from iconic sites, progress on the ground remains limited. Għawdix urged all stakeholders to take swift and collaborative action to address these challenges.
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