Panic in Malta as beautiful island overrun with 10,000 tourists a day

Boasting a warm Mediterranean climate, a rich past and culture thanks to over 7,000 years of history, and of course beautiful beaches, it's no surprise this beautiful European island has become a favourite holiday hotspot. Nestled between Sicily and the North African coast, Malta saw nearly 3.6 million inbound tourists in 2024 and this year it is still asking for more.

Around 20 minutes away from the mainland lies the island of Comino – famous for the Blue Lagoon, a natural 1.4 square-mile wide pool which for obvious reasons has become hugely popular with tourists. What was once a "peaceful" destination is now overrun by 10,000 tourists a day, according to Metro, and locals are getting increasingly fed up with the industry that is bringing "unsustainable" numbers to the area during high season. Now, tourism experts have shared their concerns about the effect of overtourism on Comino – and possible solutions – with the Express.

In February, Malta’s tourism minister Ian Borg pledged to "clean up" Comino, introducing a capacity cap to prevent commercial boat operators from overwhelming the area.

"During July and August, 10,000 people descend on Comino’s Blue Lagoon every day, and that’s too many," the minister said, according to The Times of Malta. He added that the island could not "keep permitting operators to unload boatloads of 700 or 800 passengers at one time in such a small space," noting that the "plan is to reduce the number of passengers by half".

Comino, home to just two permanent residents, is actually a Natura 2000 marine protected area and an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports 50 to 80 breeding pairs of yelkouan shearwaters.

Eammon Turley, a travel and tourism expert and CEO of MPV Rentals, told The Express he "wholeheartedly" supports Minister Borg's capacity cap: "It's a good move if Malta wants to preserve Comino for future generations and maintain its charm as a destination [in] nature.

"Most tourists forget that huge crowds have tangible environmental effects– like destroying bird habitats, rodents from the garbage food, and wearing out the very shores and water tourists travelled miles to see in the first place."

"Something to consider here, too, is achieving balance between tourism revenue and long-term sustainability," he added. "Cutting back on numbers doesn't deter tourists—it makes it smarter. I always tell tourists to get out and visit more than the biggest attractions first.

"Malta has got so many other lovely things, like little coves, promenades, and culture that can give a fuller and calmer experience. Comino's not just about the Blue Lagoon – it's about the whole island. A more even distribution of visitors across different areas and times would be a great help in decongesting the areas."

Alexandra Dubakova, travel expert and CMO at Free Walking Tours, echoed Mr Turley's words: "Even with the 10,000 tourists per day, most areas of the island are under-visited. Zejtun, for example, is one of Malta’s oldest towns. Yet it is ignored because it is inland and not on cruise routes.

"Last month, one of our Maltese guides cancelled a walking tour in Valletta because the streets were too congested. The guide couldn’t show our clients around well enough to give them a meaningful experience without interference. The overstrain is slowly starting to collapse cultural experiences, beating the point of tourism.

"I believe the solution should be better flow management. Nudge travelers to the ignored locations so tourists spread out and stay longer. Capping daily numbers without diversifying visitors’ experience might turn Malta into a gated attraction."

Roisin Miller, a blogger who runs roabouttown, told The Express she visited Malta three years ago and even at that point the Blue Lagoon was "so busy we couldn't find a place to sit and could barely find somewhere to bob in the water". She said she was "not surprised Borg is taking these measures and think they're probably needed.

"It will be sad for some tourists, but the rocks and area need protecting. Plus it was not actually enjoyable as a tourist [...] I do think more needs to be done to stop overtourism."

Kanika Puri, Chief Customer Officer at Fast Cover Travel Insurance, highlighted the recent approval of a large hotel to be built on the island in the next few years.

"Not only [is] the construction is highly disputed but it also doesn't solve the issue of curbing mass tourism in the meantime," she said.

The luxury Six Senses Comino is scheduled to open in 2027 and is being developed by HV Hospitality, a subsidiary of Hili Ventures and will be managed by Six Senses, a luxury hotel brand, according to European Spa Magazine. The hotel will be located on two bays of the island and will feature 71 suites, 19 retreats, and a spa.

Finally, Maltese-American Liz Delia, from Zest for Latitudes, said that while to her "Malta as a whole doesn't feel any more crowded than other popular Mediterranean spots," Comino is a "clear exception" and the environmental impact around the Blue Lagoon is "definitely concerning".

"When we were there in 2023, we actually skipped Comino altogether and spent time instead exploring quieter bays and coves on Gozo and the main island. Comino is undeniably stunning, but it’s hard to enjoy when it’s packed with people. That’s also what I suggest to my readers: if they’re set on going, try to visit in the shoulder season - May, September, or even October. Otherwise, there are plenty of equally gorgeous (and more peaceful) alternatives."