Comino: System being prepared to control number of passengers disembarking from commercial boats – Minister

by Gozo News · April 8, 2025

Comino: System being prepared to control number of passengers disembarking from commercial boats - Minister Minister for Tourism Ian Borg has said that, “a system is being prepared to control the number of passengers currently disembarking on Comino from commercial boats, with the least possible inconvenience to all parties concerned. It is planned that this system will come into force in the coming weeks.”

The Minister added that this follows “a consultation and several meetings that have taken place with the commercial boat operators for Comino.”

Minister Borg was replying to a Parliamentary Question tabled by Opposition MP Chris Said on what plans have been made to reduce by half the number of daily visitors to Comino that are transported by commercial boats and how the plans are to be actioned.

In February, the Tourism Minister had expressed his intentions to “curb the commercial activities on Comino and the Blue Lagoon.”

This move was welcomed by NGOs and the public. In February Transport Malta invited Expressions of Interest (EOI) from “suitably qualified” commercial operators for the provision of transport services to Blue Lagoon, Comino, for 2025.

The Authority said that this EOI will apply to any commercial vessel engaged in the carriage of passengers, including those operating under a valid Commercial Vessels Operator Licence (CVOL) or valid Water Sports Operator Licence (WSOL).

Operators expressing interest will provide commercial passenger transport services to Blue Lagoon during the specified period. The Authority stated that “the services must be conducted in a manner that ensures safety, environmental sustainability, and efficient passenger flow.”

In March, Minister Borg said that as a first step in the process to issue the call to select operators on Comino, the Ministry had published the contracts of the existing Comino operators for the rental of deckchairs and umbrellas.

He went on to say that the Malta Tourism Authority, together with other authorities, “has also begun evaluating the criteria required for future calls, for 2026, with the aim of achieving a more sustainable balance in the use of deckchairs and umbrellas, as well as in operators of food, beverage and other product kiosks.”