Blue Lagoon Under Pressure: Comino's Struggle with Tourist Crowds
The once tranquil Mediterranean jewel of Comino, renowned for its breathtaking Blue Lagoon, has become a victim of its own popularity.
prativad 
The once tranquil Mediterranean jewel of Comino, renowned for its breathtaking Blue Lagoon, has become a victim of its own popularity. Enticed by dazzling social media images, throngs of tourists have transformed the tiny island. Now, Comino is pushing back against this overwhelming tide.
From a Marfa Bay cafe in Malta, Colin Backhouse's gaze drifts towards the small silhouette of Comino on the horizon. This 3km by 5km islet, nestled between Malta and Gozo, boasts a radiant sea that shifts from deep indigo to vibrant turquoise. Once a secluded haven, it now stands as a fiercely contested tourist hotspot within the Maltese archipelago.
Backhouse, the voice behind the popular Malta Holiday Experiences Facebook page with over 51,000 followers, dedicates himself to showcasing the Maltese Islands' finest locations. Yet, there's one place he pointedly avoids recommending.
"It's idyllic at this time of year," he remarks, gesturing towards the car-free islet. "But in the summer months? Absolutely not. It becomes unbearable."
Drawing tens of thousands of visitors annually from across the globe, Comino's Blue Lagoon is a photographer's dream and a Mediterranean icon. The bay's striking azure hue, a result of sunlight reflecting off the pristine white limestone seabed, shimmers under the Mediterranean sun, creating picture-perfect scenes.
During the low season, from December to February, the bay's waters remain undisturbed, save for the occasional gentle landing of a seagull. The shoreline is peaceful, the natural landscape untouched. However, summer paints a drastically different picture. Crowds jostle for every inch of space, litter overflows bins and becomes entangled in crushed rock rose bushes, while noisy powerboats pollute the air and water, leaving a trail of environmental damage.
Backhouse fondly recalls a time when Comino offered a true sense of escape. "My first visit was in 1980. Back then, you could have the entire island to yourself. Sadly, I've witnessed its degradation firsthand over the decades. I honestly don't understand why people still flock there."
He is not alone in his disillusionment. Growing frustration over Comino's overtourism has been brewing for years, with some disappointed visitors even labeling the day trip from Malta a "rip-off." Overcrowded ferries, inadequate facilities, and increasing environmental damage have intensified pressure on authorities to intervene.
In response to this inaction, local activists have taken a stand. In 2022, a group called Movimenti Graffiti directly confronted the issue by removing the island's numerous deckchairs and sunbeds. Their protest aimed to challenge what they perceived as the privatization of public space for commercial gain. Their message was unequivocal: Comino deserves protection, not exploitation.
