‘Will Comino Be Ours To Enjoy?’ Moviment Graffitti Urges Action After Ian Borg’s Pledge
Moviment Graffitti has expressed cautious optimism following Tourism Minister Ian Borg’s announcement of plans to scale back commercial activities on Comino, particularly at the Blue Lagoon.
The activist group, which has been vocal about the overcrowding and commercialisation of Comino, welcomed the news but emphasised the need for concrete action.
For years, Moviment Graffitti has called for strict limits on the influx of tourist boats that drop hundreds of tourists onto the small island nature reserve multiple times a day.
The group argued that this unchecked activity has led to the degradation of the Blue Lagoon and Comino as a whole.
“We hope that the proposed measures will primarily target these tourist activities and not result in a cap which prioritises large tourist operators over services used by residents of the Maltese Islands to enjoy Comino,” the NGO stated.
The organisation also welcomed Minister Borg’s proposal to regulate the kiosks operating on Comino. The number of kiosks on the island has long been a point of contention, with Moviment Graffitti maintaining that the current setup is unsustainable.
The group warned against allowing kiosks to expand into other parts of the island, noting with concern that some have already begun setting up in Santa Maria Bay. This, they argue, threatens the government’s own habitat restoration efforts in the bay and its wetland.
“We look forward to being invited to the consultation meeting on this matter,” Moviment Graffitti added.
A significant point raised by the NGO was the ongoing absence of Comino’s carrying capacity study, which was commissioned by the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) years ago but has yet to be published.
“The public has a right to access this information and assess the authorities’ actions, or lack thereof, to preserve and restore Comino as a Natura 2000 site,” the statement continued.
The group also highlighted the potential threat posed by proposed development projects, including plans for a hotel and villas at San Niklaw and Santa Marija bays by Hili Group.
The NGO argued that such developments would contradict Comino’s protection status and undermine the public’s right to enjoy the island.
While cautiously optimistic, Moviment Graffitti did not shy away from reminding the public of previous unfulfilled promises. It referenced the stalled planning appeals reform as an example of where rhetoric had not translated into tangible action.
“We hope Ian Borg’s words are followed up with tangible actions for the common good and do not become another unrealised promise as with the planning appeals reform,” it concluded.
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