Referring to the recently announced measures aimed at managing visitor numbers at the Blue Lagoon, Comino, starting from tomorrow, the Gozo Tourism Association said that from the outset both it and the commercial vessel operators to Blue Lagoon, all members of the Association, have “consistently expressed their support for better management of tourism activity in that area.

The GTA warned that “introducing these measures just ahead of the peak summer season, when most operators have already commenced services and accepted pre-bookings, is expected to cause significant disruption, confusion, and logistical challenges. Such abrupt changes pose a serious risk of financial strain for operators.”

“As tourism is a forward-planning industry, abrupt changes of this nature risk negatively impacting both the operator experience and the overall reputation of the destination,” added the Association.

The GTA noted that over the past two months, representatives of the Association and the commercial vessel operators participated in two consultation meetings with the Ministry for Tourism to discuss the proposed measures.

It said that during these meetings, operators voiced “several concerns and put forward constructive, experience-driven recommendations, particularly focused on easing congestion in the Blue Lagoon and advocating for visitor caps to apply solely to tourists, and not local residents.”

However, the GTA said “despite expressing a clear willingness to continue the dialogue and contribute further proposals, no formal response has been received to date, and it appears that the feedback provided has not been incorporated in the final implementation plan.”

The Association emphasised that “all operators recognise the need for a well-structured and sustainable approach to address long-standing challenges in the area and are in favour of initiatives that improve the overall visitor experience while safeguarding the natural environment.”

It noted that one of the primary concerns expressed relates to the newly introduced ticketing system. “Operators believe that the system does not create a level playing field, as it allocates and ring-fences landing slots to specific categories of operators. This is seen as discriminatory and detrimental to fair competition in the sector.”

Additionally, the GTA said that another concern is the “rushed implementation of the system as such a significant operational change cannot be realistically introduced within a two-month timeframe. A transitional period is essential to enable operators to adjust schedules, restructure logistics, and adequately inform international partners and clients of the changes.”

The Gozo Tourism Association, together with its member operators reaffirmed their “commitment to maintaining a constructive dialogue with the Ministry for Tourism. Our shared goal remains to achieve a balanced practical implementation of the management system – one that promotes long term sustainability while ensuring fairness for all stakeholders.”

File photo: Gozo News/Alain Salvary

Permalink: Comino: Introducing new measures just ahead of peak season “expected to cause significant disruption” – GTA