The following result is derived from the analysis of user satisfaction based on a questionnaire conducted at the entrance of Golden Bay Beach – Malta. The responses were collected through the Engaging City Users service via QR Code by snap4city for the TOURISMO project (https://www.snap4city.org/1081). The following result is a summary produced by SnapAdvisor whcih is a Large Language Model tool based on the responses obtained from June to August 2025
Summary of Findings (June–August 2025, 36 responses received - Golden Bay, Malta)
The document compiles survey responses from Golden Bay visitors (Maltese residents, EU tourists, and non-EU tourists), who rated different aspects of the beach on a scale from -2 (very unsatisfactory) to +2 (very satisfactory).
Key Results:
Overall experience: Highly variable, ranging from -2 to +2. EU and non-EU tourists generally gave more negative ratings compared to Maltese residents.
Toilets & showers: Almost universally criticized (often rated -2), with frequent comments about poor cleanliness, lack of water, and inadequate maintenance.
Cleanliness & waste management: Repeated complaints about microplastics, cigarette butts, and washed-up litter. Some visitors also mentioned early closure of facilities and removal of sunbeds.
Safety & lifeguard services: Mixed reviews (from -2 to +2), generally more positive than toilets and showers.
Natural conditions (dunes, seawater, seagrass): Often rated negatively (dirty water, excessive seagrass), though some acknowledged the scenic value.
Overcrowding: About half of respondents said their visit was negatively affected by overcrowding. However, most visitors are not willing to pay an entrance fee to control it.
Willingness to revisit: Many Maltese said they would return despite the issues, while several foreign tourists stated they would not revisit Golden Bay.
Most Common Issues:
Poor toilet facilities.
Lack of free drinking water stations.
Litter (cigarette butts, plastics, seagrass).
Expensive facilities.
Limited space and overcrowding.
Noise from pleasure boats.
Conclusions
Structural deficiencies (toilets, showers, water stations, cleanliness) are the most recurring problems and strongly impact visitor satisfaction.
Overcrowding is a recognized issue, but there is no consensus on introducing a fee to limit it.
Residents vs. tourists: Maltese residents are more willing to return despite the problems, while international tourists express greater disappointment and lower likelihood of revisiting.
Priority improvements suggested: better toilet maintenance, stricter anti-littering measures (especially against cigarette butts and plastic), installation of free water stations, and regulation of services and boat activity to protect the natural environment.
Average Ratings (scale -2 to +2)
Overall experience: +0.67 → slightly positive but inconsistent (range -2 to +2)
Toilets: -0.83 → strongly negative, among the worst-rated aspects.
Showers: -0.31 → generally negative.
Bins distribution: -0.33 → slightly negative, with complaints about lack of bins.
Safety & lifeguard services: +0.55 → moderately positive.
Cleanliness: -0.52 → overall negative, many complaints about cigarette butts and plastics.
Natural conditions (dunes, seawater, etc.): -0.40 → negative, issues with seagrass, water quality.
