Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo has refused to publish details about the beach concessions given to deckchair operators at Comino, Fra Ben and Ramla Bay, saying that the information is commercially sensitive and cannot be provided.

In reply to a parliamentary question asked by PN MP Rebekah Borg, Bartolo told parliament that licence information concerning the bays was “commercially sensitive and therefore cannot be provided”.

Borg also asked Economy Minister Silvio Schembri for copies of contracts concerning land rented out at Ramla Bay and Comino.

Schembri said that while the documents were commercially sensitive and could not be published, he would be arranging for Borg to see them for herself privately, as Borg also serves on the Lands Authority board.

The Malta Tourism Authority had refused a Freedom of Information request to divulge information about sunbed operators at Comino’s Blue Lagoon for similar reasons, having initially asked for more time to compile the necessary information.

Information given in parliament last month showed that 17 different operators have licences to rent out sunbeds, deckchairs, and umbrellas at just five beaches.

Maltese beaches were considered to be among Europe’s most crowded, shown through a study by the hotel lobby. In Comino, the average beachgoer gets just 0.8 square metres of space.

Activists held protests at the popular Blue Lagoon bay in Comino, and Bartolo had said that things would be improved “by next summer.”