Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545556
4 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 26 JUNE 2026 NEWS CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 Overall, 75% of businesses de- scribed 2025 revenue as "good" or "excellent". Operators stressed that this growth was mainly driv- en by higher demand rather than price increases. Around 71% said the boost came from more cli- ents, pointing to real growth in visitor numbers rather than infla- tion-driven pricing. Foreign mar- kets were the main engine behind this performance, with 77% of respondents saying international demand had a positive impact on their business. Many said overseas tourism performed better than in 2024, reinforcing Gozo's reliance on inbound visitors. Domestic demand was more stable. While 45% of operators called it "good", nearly 68% said it stayed broadly unchanged compared to the pre- vious year. Uneven performance across sectors Not all parts of the industry per- formed equally well. Accommo- dation providers saw more stable or slightly subdued results com- pared to experience-based oper- ators. The transport and mobility sector stood out as the weakest performer. Transport operators reported the highest share of revenue decline at 30%, and also flagged the most operational con- straints. Costs and labour still the biggest headache Behind the positive figures, op- erators continue to point to struc- tural issues. Rising operating costs were the biggest concern, men- tioned by 71% of respondents. The report linked this to ongoing global inflation pressures and geo- political uncertainty affecting sup- ply chains and energy prices. Labour shortages remain anoth- er major issue, with 55% reporting difficulty hiring staff. The same proportion also pointed to de- lays and bureaucracy in obtaining work permits for foreign workers, describing the process as slow and burdensome. Infrastructure gaps were also flagged, with around 40% of op- erators mentioning problems with roads and parking. The issue was especially pronounced in the transport sector, where 60% said infrastructure was holding them back. Budget impact seen as limited On government policy, senti- ment was largely neutral. More than half of operators, 53%, said the 2026 Budget had "no real impact" on their business, while others said it was still too early to judge. However, the planned in- crease in the environmental con- tribution from €0.50 to €1.50 per night from July 2026 drew crit- icism. Operators said the rise is significant and called for the extra revenue to be clearly earmarked for Gozo. Calls for targeted reform Looking to the future, operators have called for a series of targeted measures to ease pressure on the sector. These include lower busi- ness taxes, faster processing of work permits, incentives to attract more local workers, and tougher action against unfair competition. They are also pushing for stronger international promo- tion of Gozo, especially to extend the tourism season into shoulder months, and clearer rules for how establishments are classified. MTA confirms public access to Blue Lagoon but offers no explanation for officials' actions THE Malta Tourism Authority and the Tourism Ministry have confirmed the Blue Lagoon and its surrounding bathing areas in Comino are public land acces- sible to everyone, but stopped short of explaining why MTA officials were filmed telling a beachgoer otherwise. In a statement issued on Wednesday afternoon, the au- thority and ministry acknowl- edged public discussion sur- rounding a video that showed MTA officials confronting a man who had set up his be- longings in an area occupied by deckchair and umbrella opera- tors at Comino. The officials were heard tell- ing the man that the area was "not public" and threatening to call the police if he refused to leave. However, in their statement, the MTA and Tourism Min- istry said they "affirm that the Blue Lagoon and its surround- ing bathing areas remain public land, accessible to all members of the public". The statement did not address the conduct of the officials cap- tured in the video or explain why the beachgoer was told he could not remain in the area. "The Blue Lagoon is one of Malta's most popular natural attractions and, as such, gives rise to operational, environ- mental, and public safety con- siderations that require care- ful ongoing management," the statement said. The authority and ministry said site management at the Blue Lagoon requires officials to exercise "operational judg- ments" in a "dynamic and heav- ily frequented environment". '"The Authority and Minis- try take seriously any concern raised by members of the public regarding their right of access, and ensure that their opera- tional protocols reflect the im- portance of maintaining public access at all times, consistent with applicable safety require- ments," the statement added. The controversy erupted after footage circulated online show- ing MTA officials ordering a man to leave an area of the Blue Lagoon occupied by commer- cial sunbed and umbrella oper- ators. The officials insisted the area was not public despite the man arguing that the coastline and bathing area should remain accessible to everyone. The incident reignited long- standing concerns over the ex- tent to which parts of the Blue Lagoon have been taken over by commercial operators during the summer months, limiting space available to bathers who do not rent sunbeds or umbrel- las. The MTA and Tourism Minis- try said they remain committed to safeguarding public access while pursuing the "responsible and sustainable management" of the Blue Lagoon. The Malta Tourism Authority said Comino's foreshore (pictured) is accessible to the public, but stopped short of explaining its officials' behaviour Over half of operators say they saw their business improve compared to 2024 Foreign markets were the main engine behind this performance, with 77% of respondents saying international demand had a positive impact on their business