Blue Flag status for St George's Bay
St George’s Bay has acquired Blue Flag status making Malta the 38th country worldwide to have a beach of such high standards.
Tourism parliamentary secretary Mario de Marco said during the award ceremony that Maltese beaches were of strategic tourism importance and the blue flag acquisition for St George’s Bay was a clear sign of the government’s commitment to continuously invest in the country’s tourism product.
He said that more than half a million tourists a year came to Malta for the sea and sun so the product had to continue being strengthened.
Dr de Marco noted that the Bugibba perched beach was awarded a Blue Flag Certificate while Golden Bay got a Beach of Quality certificate.
The three bays getting the awards, he said, were all managed by the Malta Tourism Authority.
Vince Attard, Malta representative of the Blue Flag International said that the flag was given after a bay was managed well and consistently for a number of years. It had to have good quality water and the necessary infrastructure.
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f.vella
Jun 26th 2009, 11:12
well done to the operators of St Georges Bay, Buggiba,and Golden Bay. It seems a shame that other beaches are not following suit, is this because they are managed by councils or because theMTA is not promoting them. Yes the MTA is the Authority that manages our popular tourist attractions and nothing else. Coincidence that three beaches in Malta receive awards and yet Gozo and Comino are forgotten. Mr De Marco please note that the Diving industry is also here and here to stay. when will Gozo reiceive a Blue Flag, or Blue Lagoon? And under what criteria doesa beach achieve Blue Flag? May we see them printed on this media?
Peter Gatt
Jun 25th 2009, 22:50
I am sure that winning such awards for these bays came at a price, ditched out by MTA through our taxes. No objection regarding this…that’s what taxes are for!……however……I do hope that these beaches are totally accessible to local alike, and not cordoned off by a hotel or lido, making it theirs. If so, I question the legality of such actions…..however if legal (which I doubt) I do hope that these business are contributing their fair share.
Etienne Micallef
Jun 25th 2009, 22:41
RE the Ramla Hamra and Comino, I wish to inform the general l public that the Malta Red Cross Gozo Branch is willing and has the capacity to do a life guard service. In fact we do have plans to have a water rescue ambulance stationed in Comino besides life guard posts set up as per international standards. For the last 1.5 years we have been doing discussions with the respective authorities. However we are still waiting for the final ok. The Red Cross has very good experience in water rescue activities, being the main provider of water rescue and life guarding in most Eu countries. As per established criteria, in most Eu countries, there are lifeguards present on the beaches. We did provide full life guard service in 1999 for three beaches in Gozo (every day) when we got support for m the authorities. over the years we tried to offer the service. Red Cross is not an NGO, but an independent axillary body to the government. Red Cross in each country is set up by law.
James Green
Jun 25th 2009, 20:14
Does the road leading to Armier get the Jolly Roger flag?
Skull and Crossbones?
Andrew Grech
Jun 25th 2009, 18:44
Big Hotel near by...Blue Flag in sight!!!
I'm glad to see Blue Flags coming up but do they come with pre-detemined criteria?
Golden Bay could be one of the most picturesque beaches on the island, flanked by a lovely 5 star hotel..it is kept very clean as i have witnessed many-a-time the cleaners early on Sunday morning empting the garbage and picking up rubbish left behind by the selfish but i cannot understand why no one has removed all the pebbles cum stones that occupy the shore line. Most struggle to simple get in and out of the water.
j.spiteri
Jun 25th 2009, 16:46
Nice to hear about St George's bay, what about St Thomas bay?, can somebody check the sea for contamination from the Caravans and shanty town near by, they have no drains, so where is all going??
Also about the mess left from the night before from B-B-Q's (specially at weekends).
Why not M'scala council issue payable permits for these B-B-Q's ( per designated plot) with hefty deposit and if you leave a mess on your area then you forfeit the deposit. Then use the money to upgrade the beach area?
O. Sant' Angelo
Jun 25th 2009, 16:07
Well done to MTA for the upkeep of St George's Bay.
They have shown that they can be entrusted with the care of other beaches around Malta & Gozo, such as the ones mentioned by people posting comments on this page... if it is not already their responsability.
As D.Caruana points out below, there is too much contrast between beaches on such a small island. Other beaches certainly merit as much effort as St. George's Bay. Many tourists like St. George's because it is a stone's throw away from their hotel or because it is reminescent of well-kept beaches abroad. However a good many other tourists prefer beaches which are a little further away but perhaps feel more 'Maltese'.
Oh and by the way... it is not only tourists who enjoy those beaches. I, for one, would like to see that the beaches where I learnt how to swim, be kept in good condition.
Graham Crocker
Jun 25th 2009, 15:47
also known as blue gag status
Joe Formosa
Jun 25th 2009, 15:47
What about the sewer outpour at Birgu and the kids swiming there everyday???
Red Flag or shall I say Red Card.....!!!!
J Cilia
Jun 25th 2009, 15:23
Attention Heritage Malta. I have just returned from a visit to the Hagar Qim and Mnajdra Temples. Can I just say how embarrased I felt in the presence of my guests as a result of the state these World Heritage Sites are in right now. The temple sites are littered with leftover materials following the erection of the protective canopies. We are in peak touist season and our Historical Showcase is in shambles; the place is strewn with carton, wooden and plastic packaging, surplus materials and equipment. Didn't it cross anyone's mind to provide storage cabins a few metres away from the sites, can an industrial skip be placed in an inconspicous location. Whoever is supervising the works and sites deserves the red card, but really how could we be so careless and insensitive with our heritage. Minister Cristina and Parliamentary Secretary DeMarco please get in your cars and have a look for yourselves. I feel ashamed to be Maltese. I embarked on a mission to promote my country and its heritage and I have been let down and embarrased.
D.Caruana
Jun 25th 2009, 15:08
How Ironic!!
On the same day as this letter; lol
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090625/letters/walking-on-stones-at-sandy-golden-bay
F Cutajar
Jun 25th 2009, 14:53
So Dr De Marco and MTA, what about Comino and Ramla Bay in Gozo?? Or they are not in your responsability?? Every Summer we have accidents and sometimes they are serious. Tourists are complaning about this situation, because this is a serious and urgent situation. Please authorities take note, THIS SUMMER and NOT SUMMER 2010.........I must say well done and good work for those who were involved to save that tourists in Golden Sands Bay.
Paul Micallef
Jun 25th 2009, 14:38
It is good to have St George's Bay classified with a Blue Flag status. But this bay is the least important of all beaches around Malta and Gozo. I for one go to swim regularly at Ramla Hamra in Gozo. This bay has the most beautiful beach on the island. This year it is in a very poor state. The sand is full of stones and tourists are removing these stones and piling them to one side so that they can walk up and down to the water. This year the water way leading from the Xaghra valley to the sea has not been levelled and the beach is still filled with stones and water.
In the last 2 years a wooden walkway leading from the concrete floor to the middle of the bay was erected so that people could walk the distance to the sea more easily. This year this has not been put in place. And we are in mid June.
I hope we are not waiting to do the above for the winter season.
Reuben Abela
Jun 25th 2009, 14:32
lol
J. Borg
Jun 25th 2009, 14:11
Great!
Now put in a FISH FARM and a MARINA
as there are currently, or being planned, in other "bays"!!