Moviment Graffitti has today released a video capturing how the large commercial boat operators are the main cause of chaos at Comino’s Blue Lagoon. The video shows how the arrival of these boats relentlessly transforms this iconic nature reserve from a peaceful, idyllic location in the early morning, to a crowded, noisy, dirty tourist trap by mid-afternoon. Moviment Graffitti are calling for a ban on large tourist boats visiting Comino. 

These large tourist boats actively ensnare thousands of tourists from Buġibba and Sliema and spew them into the Blue Lagoon every day. The environmental impact is massive, and by mid-afternoon nobody is able to enjoy the area for what it should be – a little piece of paradise. More than 10 such large boats can be berthed at the Blue Lagoon at any one time, each with a capacity of several hundred people. Many operators carry out multiple trips per day.

Annual visits to the Blue Lagoon used to be a summer staple for many local families. Today, the people of Malta and Gozo do not even consider it. We have been pushed out of public land by a handful of powerful businesses who are allowed to exploit the island at the cost of public enjoyment and the environment.

We had heard about the government’s recent attempts to limit tourist numbers through a new ticketing system, so we went to see for ourselves and record what we found. We invite the public to watch the video and judge for themselves what the main problem is.

Despite Tourism Minister Ian Borg’s pomp regarding his new “system”, he is still bending backwards to allow the biggest offenders to continue profiteering at the Blue Lagoon, all while Government still refuses to publish Comino’s carrying capacity study.

Moviment Graffitti insists that vessels that funnel mass tourism do not belong in a nature reserve.

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BIL-FILMAT – L-operaturi ta’ dgħajjes kummerċjali kbar iġibu l-kaos fil-Blue Lagoon f’Kemmuna

Il-Moviment Graffitti llum ħareġ filmat li juri kif l-operaturi ta’ dgħajjes kummerċjali kbar huma l-kawża ewlenija tal-kaos fil-Blue Lagoon f’Kemmuna. Il-filmat juri kif il-wasla bla heda ta’ dawn id-dgħajjes qed tittrasforma din ir-riżerva naturali ikonika minn post paċifiku u idilliku kmieni filgħodu, għal nassa tat-turiżmu ffullata, storbjuża u maħmuġa waranofsinhar. Il-Moviment Graffitti qed jitlob il-projbizzjoni tad-dgħajjes tat-turisti kbar li jżuru Kemmuna.

Ta’ kuljum, dawn id-dgħajjes tat-turisti kbar qed jiġbdu lejhom eluf ta’ turisti minn Buġibba u Tas-Sliema u mbagħad jitilquhom il-Blue Lagoon. L-impatt ambjentali huwa enormi, u waranofsinhar ħadd ma jkun jista’ jgawdi ż-żona bħala r-roqgħa ġenna li suppost hi. Fi kwalunkwe ħin, aktar minn 10 dgħajjes kbar bħal dawn jistgħu jkunu rmiġġati fil-Blue Lagoon, b’kull waħda tiflaħ iżżomm diversi mijiet ta’ persuni. Bosta operaturi jwettqu numru ta’ vjaġġi kuljum.

Għal ħafna familji lokali, iż-żjarat annwali lejn il-Blue Lagoon kienu attività tas-sajf. Illum, ir-residenti ta’ Malta u Għawdex lanqas biss jikkunsidraw li jmorru hemm. Dabbrulna rasna minn art pubblika numru żgħir ta’ negozji b’ħafna poter li qed jitħallew jisfruttaw il-gżira għad-detriment tat-tgawdija pubblika u l-ambjent.

Smajna dwar it-tentattivi reċenti tal-Gvern biex jillimita n-numru ta’ turisti permezz ta’ sistema ġdida ta’ biljetti, u għalhekk morna naraw b’għajnejna stess u nirrekordjaw x’sibna. Nistiednu lill-pubbliku biex jara l-filmat u jiddeċiedi hu liema hi l-problema ewlenija.

Minkejja l-pompa kollha tal-Ministru għat-Turiżmu Ian Borg rigward is-sistema l-“ġdida” tiegħu, huwa għadu qed jagħmel ħiltu kollha biex iħalli lil dawk li jagħmlu l-aktar ħsara jkomplu japprofittaw ruħhom mill-Blue Lagoon, filwaqt li l-Gvern għadu jirrifjuta li jippubblika l-istudju dwar kemm tiflaħ nies Kemmuna.

Il-Moviment Graffitti jinsisti li l-bastimenti l-kbar li jwasslu it-turisti tal-massa mhux posthom f’riżerva naturali.