Malta Tourist board has said the managememt of tourism at the Blue Lagoon has reduced crowding at the iconic location by two third.
Enhancements intrdocued to manage tourism at the popular spot, include an expanded swimming zone and increased cleaning resources, improving safety and cleanliness.nThe highest concentration of visitors at the Blue Lagoon this summer was 3,830 on 22nd August, a drop of 68pc from summer 2024 peaks.
The average number of visitors per time slot with the new booking system was 1,979, showing successful visitor flow management.
Only 34 of 189 available time slots exceeded 3,000 visitors, supporting the effectiveness of the booking system implemented by the Malta Tourism Authority. The measures taken aim to balance visitor experience and environmental protection, with ongoing efforts to collect and analyse visitor data for future improvements.
Authorities in Valetta said that up to 12,000 visitors were recorded at the Blue Lagoon at any one time at peak hours. The new free online booking system introduced this year – Book. Protect. Enjoy. – allows a maximum of 4,000 visitors at any one time, marking the first ever attempt toward sustainable management of the area. An average of 1,979 visitors per time slot registered in July and August.
Four objectives
Established earlier this year, Team Blue Lagoon is focusing on four key objectives:
- Improved visitor flows through the new booking system
- A safer visitor experience with a larger swimming zone
- Additional cleansing and waste management resources
- Strict enforcement and security throughout the site, on land and at sea
In May, Team Blue Lagoon extended the swimming zone by 12pc. Two smaller beaches in the same area were also newly designated as safe swimming zones.
The Team also doubled the cleaning resources allocated to the area, with over 12 cleaners assigned daily to empty bins, collect litter, and maintain the site’s showers and toilets, which were also refurbished. Waste is now transported off the Island more frequently, reducing the environmental impact.
Orders from the capitainerie
Maritime operations have also been reorganised, with a new capitainerie managed by Transport Malta officers overseeing the arrival and departure of vessels to the existing landing sites.
New signage is guiding visitors to follow the site’s regulations and remain on established paths, avoiding the protected garigue. Some of the paths have been upgraded to improve safety.
CEO of the Malta Tourism Authority Carlo Micallef shared: “By controlling peak visitor numbers and spreading flows, the booking system is helping us embark on a journey to protect the Blue Lagoon and give visitors a better experience. These improvements underline the effectiveness of the measures taken so far, and the determination of Team Blue Lagoon and of our partner entities to continue working in the direction we have undertaken.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Ian Borg shared: “Team Blue Lagoon’s efforts this summer are the first tangible drive to improve the sustainability of operations at this national gem and Natura 2000 site. The results are encouraging – a vital first step towards long-term and sustained rehabilitation as well as a better visitor experience.
This is just the beginning. We will continue analysing the data and review the next potential steps. The Blue Lagoon is a very small site, placing physical limitations on the level of activity it can host, particularly on land. Consequently, its popularity means that it is always bound to be very busy at peak hours. This will not dampen our drive. We shall persevere to strike the right balance, ensuring environmental protection while offering an enjoyable visitor experience.”
