Comino Blue Lagoon kiosks remain despite illegal status

Comino’s Blue Lagoon, one of Malta’s most iconic natural sites, is once again facing a summer season dominated by unregulated commercial activity. Despite years of public commitments by successive tourism ministers to address illegal kiosks and unauthorised beach concessions, the situation on the ground remains unchanged. Operators who have long lacked valid permits are expected to continue trading throughout the upcoming peak season, reinforcing concerns about governance failures and environmental neglect at a protected Natura 2000 site.

Authorities have now attributed the continued presence of these operations to pending planning approvals, effectively delaying reform for yet another year. This latest explanation has raised questions about accountability, enforcement and the repeated failure to translate policy promises into tangible action.

Planning delays cited as reason for inaction

The Malta Tourism Authority has confirmed that no competitive tenders will be issued for kiosks or beach concessions at the Blue Lagoon this year. Officials have stated that this is due to an unresolved Planning Authority application related to a proposed revamp of the area.

“The intention remains to reduce kiosks radically and to issue beach concessions through a competitive tendering process,” an MTA spokesperson said. “However, this will have to wait until we have the permit.”

The application in question, identified as PA00738/26, was filed last year and remains at an early stage of assessment. No timeline has been provided for its approval or conclusion. As a result, the current operating arrangements will remain in place for the entire summer season.

This confirmation directly contradicts earlier assurances made by the authorities that reform would be implemented within a defined timeframe. It also signals that previous commitments made to the public and to environmental stakeholders have once again not been met.

Missed deadlines and shifting promises

The decision to maintain the status quo confirms that another informal deadline has passed without explanation. Last year, the MTA had argued that it was too late to issue tenders for the 2025 summer season, instead promising a comprehensive overhaul ahead of 2026.

When asked whether competitive tenders would finally be introduced before the 2026 summer season, the MTA confirmed that existing arrangements would continue unchanged. This response suggests that even the revised timeline has now been deferred, although no formal announcement has been made to that effect.

Such repeated postponements have contributed to growing scepticism among industry observers and civil society groups. The absence of clear milestones or enforcement actions has reinforced perceptions that reform is repeatedly announced but rarely delivered.

Longstanding illegal status of kiosks and concessions

All kiosks currently operating at the Blue Lagoon have been without valid Planning Authority permits since at least 2015. Despite this prolonged non compliance, operations have continued uninterrupted for nearly a decade.

Beach concessions, which occupy significant portions of public land, have similarly operated without competitive tendering processes. Licences have typically been rolled over on an annual basis, creating a system where access to public resources is effectively reserved for the same operators year after year.

This practice raises concerns about transparency, equal opportunity and the proper stewardship of public land. It also exposes weaknesses in enforcement mechanisms that allow unauthorised commercial activity to persist despite clear regulatory frameworks.

Operators linked to recurring investigations

Investigative reporting has repeatedly identified specific individuals associated with commercial activity at Comino. Among those named are Daniel Refalo and Mark Cutajar.

Refalo, a Gozitan businessman, has been linked through companies and family interests to multiple commercial ventures on Comino. He has also been associated with the wider Joseph Portelli business network, which has been active across various sectors in Malta.

Mark Cutajar is the brother of former Labour MEP Josianne Cutajar and has been publicly identified as a canvasser for Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri.

“Everyone knows who is behind these concessions. They are politically connected and no minister wants to trigger backlash, especially with an election on the horizon,” a tourism industry insider said.

It is important to note that no court findings have established wrongdoing by any individual named. However, the repeated appearance of the same operators over many years has intensified public debate about political influence and regulatory inertia.

Significant financial incentives at stake

The economic value of commercial activity at the Blue Lagoon is considerable. Estimates suggest that kiosk operators and beach concessionaires generate hundreds of thousands of euros each summer through food sales, deckchair rentals and umbrella hire.

These activities take place on publicly owned land within a protected environmental zone. As such, the continued absence of transparent tendering processes has raised concerns about whether the public is receiving fair value for the commercial use of its natural assets.

The scale of these revenues helps explain why reform has proven politically sensitive. Any attempt to dismantle entrenched arrangements would likely face resistance from those with established commercial interests.

Environmental concerns and regulatory fragmentation

Environmental organisations have consistently warned that unchecked commercialisation is undermining the ecological integrity of Comino. The Blue Lagoon is subject to strict environmental protections, yet enforcement has been widely criticised as weak or inconsistent.

Responsibility for oversight is divided among multiple authorities, including the Planning Authority, the Lands Authority and the Malta Tourism Authority. This fragmentation has often resulted in institutional deadlock, with each body pointing to another as the primary decision maker.

The absence of coordinated enforcement has allowed unauthorised structures and activities to persist without consequence. Over time, temporary arrangements have effectively become permanent features of the landscape.

Limited progress despite policy initiatives

Authorities have repeatedly announced holistic plans, carrying capacity studies and long term reform strategies for Comino. While these initiatives have generated public attention, their practical impact has been limited.

One notable development was the introduction of a visitor management system aimed at reducing overcrowding. This measure produced measurable improvements in controlling daily visitor numbers. However, it did not address the underlying issue of unauthorised commercial exploitation.

Without parallel action on kiosks and concessions, environmental advocates argue that such measures offer only partial solutions to a much broader problem.

A wider national pattern

The situation at Comino reflects a broader pattern observed along Malta’s coastline. Similar issues involving unauthorised kiosks and concessions have been documented at other popular beaches.

Just before the 2013 general election, then Tourism Minister Mario de Marco issued a 15 year concession to kiosks at Għadira Bay through a direct order. The concession was granted at exceptionally low annual fees, a decision that continues to be cited as an example of how coastal commercial activity has historically been managed.

These precedents have contributed to a regulatory culture where temporary exceptions evolve into long term arrangements, often without adequate public scrutiny.

Conclusion

The continued presence of illegal kiosks and unauthorised beach concessions at Comino’s Blue Lagoon highlights a persistent failure of governance, enforcement and political resolve. Year after year, promises of reform have been postponed, replaced by procedural explanations and shifting timelines.

While planning processes and environmental assessments are legitimate requirements, their repeated use as justifications for inaction risks undermining public trust. The prolonged tolerance of unauthorised activity on protected public land raises fundamental questions about fairness, accountability and the rule of law.

If Comino is to be safeguarded for future generations, meaningful reform will require more than policy statements. It will require decisive enforcement, transparent tendering and a clear commitment to placing the public interest above entrenched commercial arrangements. Until then, the Blue Lagoon remains a symbol not only of natural beauty but also of institutional paralysis.

FAQs

Why are kiosks at Comino’s Blue Lagoon considered illegal?
They lack valid Planning Authority permits and have been operating without authorisation for several years.

Why have the authorities not removed the kiosks?
Authorities have cited pending planning approvals and administrative processes as reasons for delaying action.

Will tenders be issued for beach concessions in 2025?
No competitive tenders will be issued for the upcoming summer season.

What is the Malta Tourism Authority’s position?
The MTA states that reform will only proceed once planning permits are approved.

Are the beach concessions on public land?
Yes the concessions operate on publicly owned land within a protected site.

Is Comino a protected environmental area?
Comino forms part of a Natura 2000 site with specific environmental safeguards.

Have visitor numbers been reduced?
A visitor management system has been introduced with some positive results.

Are specific operators repeatedly involved?
The same operators have been linked to concessions over multiple years.

Is this issue unique to Comino?
Similar problems have been identified at other coastal locations in Malta.

What would reform involve?
Authorities have proposed reducing kiosks and introducing competitive tendering processes.