Tourism Authority insists Comino beach operators abiding by the rules

The Malta Tourism Authority has moved to dispel reports that Comino’s beach operators are breaching regulations specified in a 2015 concession.

The Malta Independent today quoted boatowners as saying that deckchairs and umbrellas were in place in the Blue Lagoon before anyone had rented them, in breach of the MTA’s orders.

However, the MTA said it is satisfied that the four beach operators on Comino are observing all the regulations specified to them in a 2015 concession.

“The MTA has a team of officials specifically dedicated [to ensuring that the regulations aren’t breached]. Every morning, from 8am onwards, these officials are on site, closely monitoring the situation at the Blue Lagoon and Santa Marija bays, taking photos of it, and relaying information back to the Malta and Gozo Tourism Authorities,” it said in a statement. “They are therefore ready to take immediate steps whenever the need arises.”

Following a barrage of reports and complaints about overcrowding in Comino, tourism minister Edward Zammit Lewis blasted the “unacceptable” situation on the island, and warned that the government could revoke its three-year concession with the four beach operators in case of reported breaches of the conditions. The agreement states that only 230 deckchairs and umbrellas are permitted at the Blue Lagoon, and that deckchairs and umbrellas cost either €5 or €10, depending on the location.

The MTA denied that it only started to clamp down on the operators following media reports, noting that it had already fined them a combined total of €12,000 this summer, up until the end of July.